She broke forth as never moon yet burst from cloud: a hand first penetrated the sable folds and waved them away; then, not a moon, but a white human form shone in the azure, inclining a glorious brow earthward.

It gazed and gazed on me.

It spoke to my spirit: immeasurably distant was the tone, yet so near, it whispered in my heart-- "My daughter, flee temptation." "Mother, I will." So I answered after I had waked from the trance-like dream.

It was yet night, but July nights are short: soon after midnight, dawn comes.

"It cannot be too early to commence the task I have to fulfil," thought I.