PROLOGUE

Many years ago - more than I need attempt to recall with any degree of exactitude - when wandering wearily in the fantastic wilderness of sleep, I chanced most unexpectedly upon a valley of indescribable loveliness - a veritable fairyland of beauty and romance. It was the trysting bower of Love and Music, where indolent Rest stood janitor to guard against intrusion and the Ills of life had no power to disturb the reigning Content. With a pilgrim soul scarred, bruised and crushed in the unequal battle of life, I naturally hailed the discovery with jubilant congratulations, and, yielding only too willingly to the fascinations it exerted, I threw myself into its inviting arms and gave way to somnolent enjoyment.

It was good, if only for a little while, to be so much alone, so far away from the worries, distractions and annoyances of the daily grind of life - so pleasant to feel that for one brief space I was out of the reach and call of Care - so comforting to realise that for a time I was beyond all disturbance; therefore I threw myself down upon one of the natural couches, thoroughly reconciled to the idea of resting until such time as Energy or Circumstance should insist on the continuance of my journey.

It is impossible to say how long I lay rocking in the cradle of that blissful realm. I had found the ideal of happiness, and, drinking its full enjoyment, neither cared, thought, desired nor knew that aught beside existed. For once I was absolutely satisfied, and in the sense of it I lost the consciousness of everything except content. Nor should I even yet have made attempt to rouse myself to action had not some rough and sturdy marplot passed that way and put an end to my enjoyment.

“Good morrow, my son,” he cried, as he touched me none too gently with the point of his staff.

“Can it be possible for a morrow to be known in such a charming place as this?” I asked languidly.

“Yes; the morrow of Accountability will come to every man, and it is my duty to warn thee to be up and doing. Whither goest thou?”

“What is that to thee? Who gave thee authority to disturb my rest?” I asked with more energetic resentment.” I am Responsibility, the appointed custodian of the vale of Doubt,” he replied. “I may permit such as thee to tarry for needful rest and recuperation, after which I am commanded to offer counsel and direction. So now wake up and prepare to continue thy way. Tell me also whither goest thou - what is thy quest? and I will give thee needful advice.”

“I seek Truth,” I answered, when I recognised his jurisdiction and goodwill.

“Thou hast set a most laudable and praiseworthy task before thine eyes, my son; but the path which leads thereto is sadly overgrown and full of difficulties from long neglect by those who profess to follow it. It lies down yon steep declivity,” pointing with his staff in the direction indicated.” I am afraid you will find your courage tried in the outset, what with the overgrowth of thorns and brambles through which you must push your way, while the loose stones beneath will offer you a very insecure footing. You will find the road has been so abandoned in favour of Fable and Tradition as to become practically obliterated at this end, and the tangled overgrowth is now so thick as to make the available light dull and uncertain. Still, if you have courage to push forward, you will find it grow better as you proceed; but be cautious not to follow the false lights that will play around and lead you astray. Take your bearings carefully, and in all doubtful places keep straight on, turning neither to the right nor the left, but overcome or penetrate all obstacles, no matter what their nature or how difficult you may find them. If you follow these instructions you will secure your wish, and, though your labours will be onerous and wearisome, you will meet with a worthy reward. But take heed, my son, by the experience I have gained in my acquaintance with many men who have asked my counsel and direction in starting out upon this self-same quest; they listen patiently and with gratitude to all I have to say, they hear my caution and promise to profit thereby, but no sooner do I set them on their way with a hearty ‘God speed you!’ than I see them begin to slacken their pace as the stones roll beneath their feet and the bramble thorns prove to be sharper and stronger than they expected. Few of them get out of sight before they come to a standstill. Do you see the path running up the hill yonder, straight as an arrow's flight before us?”

“Yes, I see it plainly.”

Most men presently come to the conclusion that yon is the continuation of this way, and at once turn aside to reach it by a nearer and easier course. You will see where they turn off. From that point they lose their road, and we hear no more of them. Therefore I advise you to be cautious; trust to no illusory appearances, but go straight forward in spite of everything, and all will be well.”

“I thank you for the candour of your advice and counsel, my father, and will try to profit by your timely cautions. I did not expect an easy path, and I think my courage and determination will carry me through.”

“You will find nothing in the way you may not overcome by patience and perseverance; all the revelations of God are accessible to whosoever will honestly toil to gain them, but it means work, energy, labour and courage to surmount difficulties which occasionally may seem to be absolutely insurmountable. But never be daunted. All things are possible if you only have the will; there is a way either through or over every obstacle you will meet. Don't forget that; and if you fail in one attempt, try again. Never give up; but always remember that the greater the difficulties you encounter and overcome, so much the more will be the compensation you will ultimately secure.”

Again I thanked him for his paternal interest and consideration, after which I braced myself for the journey and bade him farewell. I struck boldly into the road, to the point of which he had brought me, and speedily discovered that his description and admonitions concerning it were better founded than I at first imagined; but his assurances buoyed me up, and when I reached the points of divergence on either side, of which he had spoken, I merely glanced at them and passed onward, saying to myself as I did so, “Perhaps he is watching to see if I follow in the steps of those against whom he has warned me, and it will gladden his heart to know that I am determined to act upon his counsel.” So I pressed forward with what speed and steadiness the path allowed. Down and still down I went, compelled to pick my way, now here now there, for the sake of safety in the steep and slippery descent, even though I sometimes doubted whether I had not been turned somewhat from the way thereby, and the gloom was so pronounced as to preclude my consulting an indicator he had generously provided for my better guidance. Many and many a time did I pause to use every means I had at my disposal to assure myself that I was still in the right path; but at length I determined to proceed as best I might until the light should so far increase as to enable me to make sure of the course I was taking. If the difficulties I encountered were to be regarded as a satisfactory indication that I was right, I had no occasion to be alarmed, and, resting on such assurance, I continued to push on until a crowning obstacle interposed in the shape of an impenetrable jungle of interlacing shrubs, flanked by an apparently solid rock - or, at least, a wall far too high for me to attempt to scale and too substantial to penetrate unaided.

I prepared to make what observation was possible in the uncertain light at my disposal; but the peculiar phenomenon of my pilgrimage was that light appeared to proceed from myself and illuminate the path I had travelled, and this light only served to increase the gloom which reigned before me. In this uncertainty the dimensions of the rock or wall passed out of sight and estimation; neither could I reach it to ascertain its real nature, by reason of the interlacing jungle of undergrowth at my feet. All

• previous experiences sank into insignificance in comparison with the task before me even in clearing the path so far as the wall, where I felt sure I should meet with a crowning failure. I was at length discouraged - lost heart, and looked very favourably upon the idea of returning. At that moment I distinctly recalled the singular fact that I was dreaming, and began to recount all the absurd terminations to such experiences. At this

• hands fell helplessly down, and for the moment I definitely decided to give up my quixotic enterprise and wake up. On second thoughts, however, I judged it best, having come so far, to push my enquiries to an actual conclusion in some form. My habit of life rebelled against the cowardly act of renunciation, and I prepared to clear the path to the face of the wall, and then determine finally as to what should be done. It might be that I should discover something behind the overgrowth offering a new suggestion - perhaps a cave, a passage, a door; how could I say before making an investigation? So I set to work. But the long and undisturbed growth had so interlaced itself as almost to defy my progress, though by obstinate persistence I worked my way slowly forward until I reached the mass of ivy which mantled the face of the wall almost to a yard in thickness. To break through such a defence twig by twig - for it was impossible to do more when I had not so much as a knife to assist me - seemed a well-nigh hopeless task, especially when I discovered that the tendrils had joined each other in almost solid growth. But I laboured on. Centring my endeavours upon a limited space, I worked with indefatigable will to reach the stone and ascertain whether there was any hope of finding a passage or hidden method of access to the beyond. Hope lightened my labour, and a premonition of success encouraged me, until I found that a door actually did exist, exactly in a direct line with the way by which I had travelled. My heart gave a great bound of joy at the discovery, and I felt assured that the obstacle I had so far surmounted was the one great test of endurance and loyalty to which my guide had made such emphatic reference in his instructions.

My energies were now redoubled, and soon I stood before the massive door, clamped with powerful hinges branching to support it in every direction, which had been strong enough to defy the rust of centuries, and still held the portal impregnable against assault. Not so the handle, which had fallen off and lay useless at my feet.

I had now discovered the way, but not the means by which it was possible to proceed, since having tried the door I found it bolted, barred or locked, and in itself a barrier equal in opposition to the wall.

Was it possible that on the other side a janitor was still in attendance? The condition in which I had found the entrance forbade such a hope, and yet not to leave a last attempt untried, I stooped, picked up the fallen handle, and smote the door therewith most vigorously.

The echo sounded as if through the empty dungeon of some mediaeval castle, but the thunder died away without eliciting any other reply.

Again I knocked, more long and loudly than before, determined that even though the seven sleepers of Ephesus were custodians of the gate, I would awake them all but what I would gain admission. Nor did I fail in my endeavour, since presently I heard the sound of the distant opening of some other door, then someone crossed the chamber, and, tapping cautiously, pleasantly enquired” Who knocks without?”

“A pilgrim from afar, seeking admission,” I replied. “For what purpose art thou come?”

“To satisfy a desire of my soul for which I have hitherto found no remedy, and in pursuit of which Responsibility has directed me hitherwards from the vale of Doubt.”

“What is the nature of thy quest?”

“Truth.”

“Will neither Curiosity nor Popularity satisfy thy need?”

“Had I been content with these I might have saved myself the toil and labour of my pilgrimage,” I replied.

“Hast thou well cleared the path behind thee, and left a light by which others may follow?” he enquired.

“Yes! The way is straight and clear behind me into the valley where I left my friend.”

“Are the tendrils cleared from before the door that all who come after thee may find their way hereto?”

“I cleared all difficulties and obstructions in my endeavour to find an entrance before I asked for your assistance.” During the latter part of this colloquy my interlocutor had been engaged preparing to open the door; first a chain was dropped, then bolts were withdrawn, and finally the key grated in the long unused lock, then guardedly opening the door sufficiently to see and visually examine me, he looked me up and down in silence until he was apparently satisfied.

“You may come in,” he said at length, and a moment later the chamber rang with a deafening echo, as the sister-door to Death, which opens into the Immortal from the realm of Sleep, closed behind me.

In my quest for Truth I had found my way to the old-time door through which the Hebrew prophets and the sages of the ancient world passed in and out of the Silent Land in the days when men were willing to accept the revelation and inspiration there obtainable, and conform their lives thereto rather than the dogmas, creeds, speculations, and policies by which modern life is so illogically and unphilosophically bamboozled.

But the way has now been indisputably reopened, and the great libraries of the Eternal, in the archives of which are stored the original and untampered-with editions of all the histories, biographies, plans, designs, poems, tragedies, comedies, and romances the world has ever known, open to inspection and study, with all successes and failures set forth for our guidance, reproof, and direction, by the aid of which we may correct the erroneous trend of present fallacies and secure the honest success of the future.

For many years have I been a reader in that International Library of the Immortals, from which I have ventured to make a transcript of the love­story of Glarces, Prince of Sahama, which illustrates the immutability of the law that love is strong as death, apart from the changing ideas and fashionable settings of religious creeds, and leaves the honest, faithful pagan to enjoy a reward of protection and ministry which many professing Christians have cause to sigh for as an actual experience.

I make no attempt to reproduce the wealth of poetry, imagery, and accessories with which I have been accustomed to hear the story garnished as I have listened to it from the lips of those who had a part to play therein, deeming it best to tell it in my own simple and unpretentious manner, and leave the more elaborate garniture, if desired, to the imagination of my readers.

My only object is to point out the working of a law, and if in this alone I am successful my one desire will be attained, and I shall be content.

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTORY NOTE

While the great powers of Babylon and Egypt were yet rising towards the zenith of their glory, the prophets and sages of Ind and Seres (China) struggling with the initial problem of their religio-philosophical systems, when Iran and Media were scarcely recognised, and Greece and Rome lay far away in an unknown future, nomadic tribes of the great Aryan family - not yet content to settle down into systematic vocations and orderly progress - wandered over the vast tablelands of Central Asia, willing to dwell in lazy indolence and indifference so long as food for man and beast could be found.

The forager of such a band, in search of the next desirable camping­ground for his tribe, one day struck a narrow pass leading into an upland valley, which track he at first followed more from curiosity than idea of utility. It was a happy inspiration revealing a wealth of pasturage and a permanent home naturally impregnable against invasion if only moderate care was taken to guard the road by which alone it could be reached. What need for his tribe - small and peaceably disposed - to remain longer at the mercy of belligerent and marauding foes, at whose hands they frequently suffered spoilation? Surely the tribal deities had guided him into such a desirable haven. And he hurried back to his family with the welcome news.

The glowing prospects warranted an unusual amount of exertion in order to obtain immediate possession. Tents were struck, flocks driven in, and a mild excitement animated the small community in its eager desire to reach such a land of promise. The report eventually proved to misrepresent the valley by minimising its value, which offered a home and riches beyond the estimation of the tribal sages as their practised eyes surveyed a pasturage for flocks and herds far in excess of their present or past possessions.

By command of the communal Mother - in whose hands all authority was vested - the pass and their own safety were at once secured, and thus a mere handful of men was all that was necessary to effectually guard against unwelcome intrusion.

From this time they were able to nurse their indolence with easy minds in the lap of prosperity. Their sheep, goats, cattle, asses, and camels increased abundantly, and every possible want and necessity was most liberally met. Save for milking, shearing, the preparation of their frugal food and the manufacture of such clothing as they adopted, there was nothing to do but dream the days away singing love songs to the accompaniment of the rude instruments rustic genius had invented.

While thus crooning an original ditty to an equally improvised strain, inspired by the digging of his shepherd's crook into the rich and hitherto unbroken soil, a young lad one day met with a determined obstruction he presently discovered to be a broad, bright vein, to which he curiously called a companion's attention. It proved to be a mother-lode of practically pure gold, and from that instant pastoral ideas were superseded by brighter visions of wealth and greatness. Nor did the promise prove to be illusory; the fortunes of that people from that moment took a sudden and expansive turn; the whole valley appeared to be as prolific in gold as they had hitherto found it in pasturage, and in the mining of the precious metal a further and even more astounding discovery was made in the fact that the hills were only to be regarded as a vast storehouse of almost priceless gems, the inexhaustible extent and purity of which in after ages gave rise to the traditions of Aladdin's cave and the river and sands of Pactolus.

Notwithstanding the amazing and almost incredible change of fortune, the rural simplicity of these people appears to have been maintained in many of its most desirable features; perhaps the fact of the perfect plethora of wealth - raising all to a condition of affluence beyond the possibility of jealousy - had much to do with this, but certain it is that to the end of their history the old form of government was sustained, and the affairs of the tribe were vested in the representative Mother, even after their condition and pretensions demanded the assumption of a royal title.

The absolute loyalty which existed among these Sahamians towards communal interests was one of the most remarkable traits of character the world has ever witnessed. Progress demanded intercourse with the outside world, and frequent caravans of traders visited all the great centres of earth, in the course of time, exchanging and bartering their matchless gems and gold for the luxurious manufactures and products of other nations. Young men and maidens travelled far and received all the advantages of contemporary civilisation, and in not a few instances advisable immigrations were made of such as were able to assist in the development of the budding nation; yet for centuries was the secret of its whereabouts maintained, and the source of the precious wares for which Babylon, Thebes, Memphis, Susa, Ophir, and Ind opened their hands was an unsolved problem.