He paused—­and I sat down again by the window, wondering and waiting.

“In this world,” he went on, slowly—­“it is not climate, or natural surroundings that affect man so much as the influences brought to bear upon him by his fellow-men.  Human beings really live surrounded by the waves of thought flung off by their own brains and the brains of those around them,—­and this is the reason why, if they are not strong enough to find a centre-poise, they are influenced by ways and moods of thought which would never be their own by choice and free-will.  If a mind, or let us say a Soul, can resist the impressions brought to bear upon it by other forces than itself—­if it can stand alone, clear of obstacle, in the light of the Divine Image, then it has gained a mastership over all things.  But the attainment of such a position is difficult enough to be generally impossible.  Influences work around us everywhere,—­men and women with great aims in life are swept away from their intentions by the indifference or discouragement of their friends—­brave deeds are hindered from accomplishment by the suggestion of fears which do not really exist—­and the daily scattering and waste of psychic force and powerful mentality by disturbing or opposing brain-waves, is sufficient to make the world a perfect paradise were it used to that end.”

He waited a moment—­then bent his eyes earnestly upon me as he resumed—­

“You do not need to be told by me that you have lived on this earth before, and that you have many times been gently yet forcibly drawn into connection with the other predestined half of yourself,—­that Soul of love which blindly seeking, you have often rejected when found—­not of yourself have you rejected it—­but simply because of the influences around you to which you have yielded.  Now in this further phase of your existence you have been given another chance—­ another opportunity.  It is quite possible that had you not come to me you would have lost your happiness again, and it was this knowledge which made me receive you, against all the rules of our Order, when I saw that you were fairly resolved.  Your ordeal would have been longer had you not made the first bold advance yourself on the occasion of your entrance into our chapel.  The light of the Cross and Star drew you, and your Soul obeyed the attraction of its native element.  Had you opposed its intention by doubts and fears, I should have had more trouble with you than I should have cared to undertake.  But you made the first step yourself with a rare courage--the rest was comparatively easy.”

He paused again and again went on.