“Well, you would soon meet her again,” I answered.  “For though you might live many years after her, still you would know in yourself that those years were but minutes in the realms of space—­”

“Minutes that decide our destinies,” he interrupted with solemnity.  “And there is always this possibility to contemplate—­suppose Zara were to leave me now, how can I be sure that I shall be strong enough to live out my remainder of life purely enough to deserve to meet her again?  And if not then Zara’s death would mean utter and almost hopeless separation for ever—­though perhaps I might begin over again in some other form, and so reach the goal.”

He spoke so musingly and seriously that I was surprised, for I had thought him impervious to such a folly as the fear of death.

“You are melancholy, Heliobas,” I said.  “In the first place, Zara is not going to leave you yet; and secondly, if she did, you know your strongest efforts would be brought to bear on your career, in order that no shadow of obstinacy or error might obstruct your path.  Why, the very essence of our belief is in the strength of Will-power.  What we will to do, especially if it be any act of spiritual progress, we can always accomplish.”

Heliobas took my hand and pressed it warmly.

“You are so lately come from the high regions,” he said, “that it warms and invigorates me to hear your encouraging words.  Pray do not think me capable of yielding long to the weakness of foreboding.  I am, in spite of my advancement in electric science, nothing but a man, and am apt to be hampered oftentimes by my mortal trappings.  We have prolonged our conversation further than I intended.  I assure you it is better for you to try to sleep, even though, as I know, you feel so wide awake.  Let me give you a soothing draught; it will have the effect of composing your physical nerves into steady working order.”

He poured something from a small phial into a glass, and handed it to me.  I drank it at once, obediently, and with a smile.

“Good-night, my Master!” I then said.  “You need have no fear of your own successful upward progress.  For if there were the slightest chance of your falling into fatal error, all those human souls you have benefited would labour and pray for your rescue; and I know now that prayers reach Heaven, so long as they are unselfish.  I, though I am one of the least of your disciples, out of the deep gratitude of my heart towards you, will therefore pray unceasingly for you, both here and hereafter.”

He bent his head.

“I thank you!” he said simply.  “More deeds are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of!  That is a true saying.  God bless you, my child.  Good-night!”