to undeceive me. They would
not answer you; they would have left you to guide yourself; the message
and the holy word, and the wonderful signs given, were not in unison
with their creed, and they halted. May I not halt, if they did? The
relic may be as mystic, as powerful as you describe; but the agencies
may be false and wicked--the power given to it may have fallen into
wrong hands; the power remains the same, but it is applied to uses not
intended."

"The power, Amine, can only be exercised by those who are friends to Him
who died upon it."

"Then is it no power at all or if a power, not half so great as that of
the arch-fiend; for his can work for good and evil both. But on this
point, dear Philip, we do not well agree, nor can we convince each
other. You have been taught in one way, I another. That which our
childhood has imbibed--which has grown up with our growth, and
strengthened with our years--is not to be eradicated. I have seen my
mother work great charms and succeed. You have knelt to priests. I
blame not you!--blame not, then, your Amine. We both mean well--I trust
do well."

"If a life of innocence and purity were all that were required, my Amine
would be sure of future bliss."

"I think it is; and thinking so, it is my creed. There are many creeds:
who shall say which is the true one? And what matters it?--they all
have the same end in view--a future Heaven."

"True Amine, true," replied Philip, pacing the cabin thoughtfully; "and
yet our priests say otherwise."

"What is the basis of their creed, Philip?"

"Charity and good-will."

"Does charity condemn to eternal misery those who have never heard this
creed--who have lived and died worshipping the Great Being after their
best endeavours, and little knowledge?"

"No, surely."

Amine made no further observations; and Philip, after pacing for a few
minutes in deep thought, walked out of the cabin.

The Utrecht arrived at the Cape, watered, and proceeded on her voyage,
and, after two months of difficult navigation, cast anchor off Gambroon.
During this time Amine had been unceasing in her attempts to gain the
good-will of Schriften. She had often conversed with him on deck, and
had done him every kindness, and had overcome that fear which his near
approach had generally occasioned. Schriften gradually appeared mindful
of this kindness, and at last to be pleased with Amine's company. To
Philip he was at times civil and courteo