The joining of the right and left hand signified the union of the masculine and the feminine principles, and of spirit and matter.
It represented the pyramid, the cone, the center, the heart, the ten Sephiroth proceeding from the One; the naught of the ten numerals in the tenfold ratio.
“And I am commanded to get rid of the my-ness, as a giant weed whose roots lie deep in the human heart?” said Yermah, slowly.
“Remember always,” responded Akaza, glad to see that Yermah’s mind was for the moment normal, “that the true self of man is God. Look for it in thy fellows; find it and hold fast to it in thyself. Thou must ponder these things well. I can tell thee what I have experienced and known; but thou wouldst only have my word for it.
“A river cannot rise higher than its source; so, therefore no man ever sees beyond the reflection of himself. First, sense the truth intuitively; then mayst thou examine it at leisure with thine intellect.
“To break the law is identical with breaking the God within thee. Now that thou art one of us, bear in mind that our Brotherhood can only instruct. We cannot give real knowledge. Experience must do that for thee.”
“Experience! thou art a cruel monster! Because of thee am I deprived of my sweet love,” said Yermah, giving way to an outburst of grief.
“What sayest thou? Look!”
Yermah raised his head and gazed with streaming eyes at an apparition of Kerœcia, as he had last seen her in life, standing in the eastern entrance.
“She smiles and beckons me!” he said, in an awe-struck whisper. “Oh! my soul, why hast thou forsaken me? Why should death touch thee, if I must live?”