Hence these prostrations, these words, these cries, these looks.

All these told me that the bitterness of death had passed away.

At this discovery there was, for a moment, a feeling of aversion and horror within me at filling such a position; that I, a weak mortal, should dare to receive adoration like this; and I recoiled at the thought: yet this feeling soon passed; for life was at stake--not my own merely, but that of Almah; and I was ready now to go through anything if only I might save her: so, instead of shrinking from this new part, I eagerly seized upon it, and at once determined to take advantage of the popular superstition to the utmost.
Far away over the crests of the mountains I saw the golden edge of the sun's disc, and the light flowed therefrom in broad effulgence, throwing out long rays of glory in a luminous flood over all the land.
I pointed to the glorious orb, and cried to the paupers, and to all who were nearest, in a loud voice: "I am Atam-or, the Man of Light! I come from the land of light! I am the Father of Thunder, of Cloud and Darkness; the Judge of Death!" At this the paupers all fell prostrate, and cried out to me to give them the blessing of death.
I made no answer, but leading Almah to the edge of the pyramid, told her to fire the pistol.

A million eyes were fixed on us.

She held up the pistol and fired.