re of Maramma. Alas! did Alma
revisit Mardi, think you, it would be among those Morals he would lay
his head?"

"No, no," said Babbalanja, "as an intruder he came; and an intruder
would he be this day. On all sides, would he jar our social systems."

"Not here, not here! Rather would we welcome Alma hungry and athirst,
than though he came floating hither on the wings of seraphs; the
blazing zodiac his diadem! In all his aspects we adore him; needing no
pomp and power to kindle worship. Though he came from Oro; though he
did miracles; though through him is life;--not for these things alone,
do we thus love him. We love him from, an instinct in us;--a fond,
filial, reverential feeling. And this would yet stir in our souls,
were death our end; and Alma incapable of befriending us. We love him
because we do."

"Is this man divine?" murmured Babbalanja. "But thou speakest most
earnestly of adoring Alma:--I see no temples in your groves."

"Because this isle is all one temple to his praise; every leaf is
consecrated his. We fix not Alma here and there; and say,--'those
groves for Him, and these broad fields for us.' It is all his own; and
we ourselves; our every hour of life; and all we are, and have."

"Then, ye forever fast and pray; and stand and sing; as at long
intervals the censer-bearers in Maramma supplicate their gods."

"Alma forbid! We never fast; our aspirations are our prayers; our
lives are worship. And when we laugh, with human joy at human things,
--_then_ do we most sound great Oro's praise, and prove the merit of
sweet Alma's love! Our love in Alma makes us glad, not sad. Ye speak
of temples;--behold! 'tis by not building _them_, that we widen
charity among us. The treasures which, in the islands round about, are
lavished on a thousand fanes;--with these we every day relieve the
Master's suffering disciples. In Mardi, Alma preached in open fields,
--and must his worshipers have palaces?"

"No temples, then no priests;" said Babbalanja, "for few priests will
enter where lordly arches form not the portal."

"We have no priests, but one; and he is Alma's self. We have his
precepts: we seek no comments but our hearts."

"But without priests and temples, how long will flourish this your
faith?" said Media.

"For many ages has not this faith lived, in spite of priests and
temples? and shall it not survive them? What we believe, we hold
divine; and things divine endure forever."

"But how enlarge your