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At last, Hermo, looking up, said, "The directions for the present

year of life are made out, and the fatal arc carefully computed,

Venerated Master," and handed his work to the Astrologer who took

it, studied a moment briefly, and turned to the Priestess.

"What is the result, Venerated Father?" she asked gently.

The Astrologer slowly shook his head and replied impressively,

"According to all the laws of our Science, and you know how true

they are, the physical organism of Sarthia can not survive this

present cycle of yonder fair Goddess of the night." And, with a

majestic move, he pushed aside a curtain, revealing the Moon now

low in the west.

"So short a time," said the Priestess. "To-morrow night will be

the full, and must we indeed lose our Sarthia before another new

Moon? What is the nature of these evil influences?"

"The planets, in their configurations, indicate sudden and

violent dissolution," was the reply.