him that art was asorcerer； betraying us to vanity and to earthly lusts； that we arefalse to ourselves； unfaithful to our friends； unfaithful towardsHeaven； and that the serpent was always repeating within us； 〃Eat； andthou shalt bee as God。〃
And it appeared to him as if now； for the first time； he knewhimself； and had found the way that leads to truth and to peace。 Inthe church was the light and the brightness of God… in the monk's cellhe should find the rest through which the tree of human life mightgrow on into eternity。
Brother Ignatius strengthened his longings； and thedetermination became firm within him。 A child of the world became aservant of the church… the young artist renounced the world； andretired into the cloister。
The brothers came forward affectionately to wele him； and hisinauguration was as a Sunday feast。 Heaven seemed to him to dwell inthe sunshine of the church； and to beam upon him from the holypictures and from the cross。 And when； in the evening； at the sunsethour； he stood in his little cell； and； opening the window； looked outupon old Rome； upon the desolated temples； and the great deadColiseum… when he saw all this in its spring garb； when the acaciasbloomed； and the ivy was fresh； and roses burst forth everywhere；and the citron and orange were in the height of their beauty； andthe palm trees waved their branches… then he felt a deeper emotionthan had ever yet thrilled through him。 The quiet open Campagna spreaditself forth towards the blue snow…covered mountains； which seemedto be painted in the air； all the outlines melting into each other；breathing peace and beauty； floating； dreaming… and all appearing likea dream！
Yes； this world was a dream； and the dream lasts for hours； andmay return for hours； but convent life is a life of years… long years；and many years。
From within es much that renders men sinful and impure。 Hefully realized the truth of this。 What flames arose up in him attimes！ What a source of evil； of that which we would not； welled upcontinually！ He mortified his body； but the evil came from within。
One day； after the lapse of many years； he met Angelo； whorecognized him。
〃Man！〃 exclaimed Angelo。 〃Yes； it is thou！ Art thou happy now？Thou hast sinned against God； and cast away His boon from thee… hastneglected thy mission in this world！ Read the parable of the intrustedtalent！ The MASTER； who spoke that parable； spoke the truth！ What hastthou gained？ What hast thou found？ Dost thou not fashion for thyself areligion and a dreamy life after thine own idea； as almost all do？Suppose all this is a dream； a fair delusion！〃
〃Get thee away from me； Satan！〃 said the monk； and he quittedAngelo。
〃There is a devil； a personal devil！ This day I have seen him！〃said the monk to himself。 〃Once I extended a finger to him； and hetook my whole hand。 But now；〃 he sighed； 〃the evil is within me； andit is in yonder man； but it does not bow him down； he goes abroad withhead erect； and enjoys his fort； and I grasped at fort in theconsolations of religion。 If it were nothing but a consolation？Supposing everything here were； like the world I have quitted； onlya beautiful fancy； a delusion like the beauty of the evening clouds；like the misty blue of the distant hills！… when you approach them；they are very different！ O eternity！ Thou actest like the great calmocean； that beckons us； and fills us with expectation… and when weembark upon thee； we sink； disappear； and cease to be。 Delusion！away with it！ begone！〃
And tearless； but sunk in bitter reflection； he sat upon hishard couch； and then knelt down… before whom？ Before the stone crossfastened to the wall？ No； it was only habit that made him take thisposition。
The more deeply he looked into his own heart； the blacker didthe darkness seem。 …〃Nothing within； nothing without… this lifesquanderied and cast away！〃 And this thought rolled and grew like asnowball； until it seemed to crush him。
〃I can confide my griefs to none。 I may speak to none of thegnawing worm within。 My secret is my prisoner； if I let the captiveescape； I shall be his！〃
And the godlike power that dwelt within him suffered and strove。
〃O Lord； my Lord！〃 he cried； in his despair； 〃be merciful andgrant me faith。 I threw away the gift thou hadst vouchsafed to me； Ileft my mission unfulfilled。 I lacked strength； and strength thoudidst not give me。 Immortality… the Psyche in my breast… away withit！… it shall be buried like that Psyche； the best gleam of my life；never will it arise out of its grave！〃
The Star glowed in the roseate air； the Star that shall surelybe extinguished and pass away while the soul still lives on； itstrembling beam fell upon the white wall； but it wrote nothing thereupon being made perfect in God； nothing of the hope of mercy； of thereliance on the divine love that thrills through the heart of thebeliever。
〃The Psyche within can never die。 Shall it live inconsciousness？ Can the inprehensible happen？ Yes； yes。 My beingis inprehensible。 Thou art unfathomable； O Lord。 Thy whole world isinprehensible… a wonder…work of power； of glory and of love。〃
His eyes gleamed； and then closed in death。 The tolling of thechurch bell was the last sound that echoed above him； above the deadman； and they buried him； covering him with earth that had beenbrought from Jerusalem； and in which was mingled the dust of many ofthe pious dead。
When years had gone by his skeleton was dug up； as the skeletonsof the monks who had died before him had been； it was clad in abrown frock； a rosary was put into the bony hand； and the form wasplaced among the ranks of other skeletons in the cloisters of theconvent。 And the sun shone without； while within the censers werewaved and the Mass was celebrated。
And years rolled by。
The bones fell asunder and became mingled with others。 Skulls werepiled up till they formed an outer wall around the church； and therelay also his head in the burning sun； for many dead were there； and noone knew their names； and his name was forgotten also。 And see；something was moving in the sunshine； in the sightless cavernous eyes！What might that be？ A sparkling lizard moved about in the skull；gliding in and out through the sightless holes。 The lizard nowrepresented all the life left in that head； in which once greatthoughts； bright dreams； the love of art and of the glorious； hadarisen； whence hot tears had rolled down； where hope and immortalityhad had their being。 The lizard sprang away and disappeared； and theskull itself crumbled to pieces and became dust among dust。
Centuries passed away。 The bright Star gleamed unaltered；radiant and large； as it had gleamed for thousands of years； and theair glowed red with tints fresh as roses； crimson like blood。
There； where once had stood the narrow lane containing the ruinsof the temple； a nunnery was now built。 A grave was being dug in theconvent garden for a young nun who had died； and was to be laid in theearth this morning。 The spade struck against a hard substance； itwas a stone； that shone dazzling white。 A block of marble soonappeared； a rounded shoulder was laid bare； and now the spade wasplied with a more careful hand； and presently a female head wasseen； and butterflies' wings