[Sidenote:  Thy Sacramental Liturgies]

But Balthazar—­whither went he, following the star?  Over many a rugged way, through many a tangled thicket, through valleys and over hills.  His star tarried over no cathedrals; it lingered over no Gothic spires.  It seemed capricious and restless and tireless.  At times it seemed intent on coming to a pause over the head of some human being, but perhaps it was because these human beings themselves were so restless and so busy that the star could not accomplish its intent.  For Balthazar saw these men and women hurrying hither and thither on errands of mercy, or deeds of justice; he saw them ferreting out great wrongs, laying heavy blows on the backs of men who oppressed and defrauded their fellow men.

At length Balthazar seemed to understand the movements of the star, and, drawing nearer, he would seem to hear these men repeating cheering and encouraging words to one another.  “Pure religion and undefiled,” he heard one exclaiming, “is to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”  And another echoed, “Inasmuch as we do it to the least of these, we do it unto Christ.”

[Sidenote:  The Joy of Doing Good]

“Ah! thought Balthazar as he listened, I see the meaning of it now; I am coming to the end of my search.  The kingdom of Christ—­I have found it.  It is in the deeds of men; it is in the conscience and the serving will.  Devotion to right, this is the law of the kingdom of Christ.”

Then Balthazar turned to go in search of his comrades again; but behold! the opal star was trembling, as if beckoning him on.  So, still doubting if he had reached the end of his search, he followed the star.

[Sidenote:  The Paths Converge]

Thus Gaspard, Melchoir and Balthazar, each following the star, at last approached each other.  The star of each seemed to melt and blend into the star of the others, and the opal light stood at last in the center of the group.  Gaspard exclaimed:  “I have found that which we all were seeking.  The kingdom of Christ is in the imagination; Christ lives in what man feels.”

“Nay,” said Melchoir, “I have followed the star, and I have found what we sought.  The kingdom of Christ is in the reason of man.  Christ lives in what man believes.”

“But,” cried Balthazar, “my star has led me to a different end.  The kingdom of Christ is in the will of man.  Christ lives in what man does.”

“The truth,” once more exclaimed Melchoir, “is the law of the kingdom.”

“Not truth,” declared Balthazar, “but justice, righteousness, goodness and purity—­these are its laws and its marks.”

“Nay, comrades beloved, hearken to me,” answered Gaspard, “it is the miracle of the divine presence.  It is God among men, realized in the holy mass.  I beheld it all in yonder cathedral.”

But lo! once more the star began to tremble and to change its place.