Page:Dealings with the dead.djvu/220

 the lightning furnaces overflow with fervent heat!

Safely, slowly, majestically and holily we passed through this terrible battle-ground of the elements; and to a question internally framed and put, this answer was given by the illustrious being at my side:

"That you might practically realize the indestructible nature of the human being; that something of human majesty might appear to your understanding; that you might be shown somewhat of the dignity of being, and the royalty of things, elements, laws and principles, hast thou been by me brought hither. This is merely a first lesson—the mere Alpha of knowledge; but others far more important are yet to follow Fear not!"

But this last injunction it was utterly impossible for me—and would have been for any human being under similar or analogous circumstances—to obey or do; for what with the dizzy sense of height, the sensations attendant upon the movement through space, the glare of the lightning, the elemental strife, the perfect obscuration of my dwelling place (the earth), together with an indefinable dread of a something impending, and which I might never be able to comprehend; this, all this, had the effect of almost palsying every faculty of being, and blanched my very soul with fear; for the rush and crush, the horrible din of the tempest, and the thunder, made terror my constant associate. It was as if the trial hour had come; it was like the breaking up of mighty mountains; it was as if a hungry earthquake were feeding on a world! Instinctively I looked to Thotmor for protection. He smiled at my weakness, and bade me remember that a greater than himself was present. Yes, I realized then that God was there, and I was safe; for He smiled between His frowns, and