again, and was again arrested and borne skywards. Finally is
disappeared over the cliff-edge.

"The weight that made it fall is of the earth," said Balder (both he
and Gnulemah had been watching the petal's course). "The breeze that
buoyed it up was from heaven, and so it is with man. Were there no
heavenly support, he would fall at once, but whether or not, he always
tends to fall."

Gnulemah objected, "It loves the air better than the earth!"

"When man begins to fall, he becomes mad, and thinks he is not
falling, but that earth is heaven, to which he is rising. But since
earth is not like heaven, infinite, he does not wish others to enjoy
it, lest his own pleasure be marred."

"How can that be?" said the unwilling Gnulemah. "What can make men so
happy on earth as other men?"

"Each wants all power for himself," rejoined Balder, his voice growing
stern as he pursued his theme. "They want to hurl their fellows out of
the world, even to annihilation. Every moment this hatred is let grow
in the heart's garden, it spreads and strengthens, till it gains
dominion and makes men slaves, and madder than before. Each will be
above his rival,--his enemy! he will be absolute master over him. And
from that resolve is born murder!"

"Why do you tell Gnulemah this?" she asked, lifting her head like a
majestic serpent. But she could not stop him now. His voice, measured
at first, was now driven by emotion.

"Murder comes next; and many a man, had fear or impotence not withheld
him, would have done murder a thousand times. But sometimes the demon
leaps up and masters impotence and fear. The man is drunk with
immeasurable selfishness,--greater than the universe can satisfy;
which would fain make one victim after another, till all the human
race should be destroyed; and then would it turn against Heaven and
God. Save for man's mortal frailty, the population of the world would
ever and anon be swept away by some giant murderer.

"Wickedness grows faster, the wickeder it is; he who has been wicked
once will easily be so again,--the more easily as his crime was great.
Even though through all his mortal life he sin no more, yet his drift
is thitherward! Only the air of Heaven breathing through his soul
after death can make him pure."

Balder was speaking out all the gloom and terror which had been
silently gathering within him since his fatal night. As he spoke, his
mind expanded, and perceived things before unknown. As the reas