De L'Ester—Gentola̤, I shall serve as interpreter between Sylvian, yourself and Bernard, who yet but slightly understands the Ento language. Emana̤ Sylvian, this is Gentola̤, of whom you have heard, and this is her son, Bernard, who recently passed from the mortal to our side of life.
Sylvian—Only as a matter of courtesy need I be presented to one whose name to me is as a household word. Gentola̤, as I look into your eyes my heart goes out to you in fonder greeting than my lips can utter, for I recall cherished memories of long ago, memories which happily you cannot now recall, but which, at times, like evanescent mist wreaths drift athwart your mental vision. De L'Ester's warning glance deters me else I might grow too reminiscent, which, at this time, would be unwise. Gentola̤, I cannot express my joy, my gratitude, that across the vast space between Earth and Ento an incarnated spirit has been brought to deliver to Ento's sorrowful children a Message of hope; a Message which shall lift out of an abyss of darkness into effulgent light a people who now with heavy hearts and downcast thoughts ever walk in the shadow of a great fear; for ever, as they courageously smile and strive to forget, they are conscious of the approach of the dread horror death. Gentola̤, see you not how my people in whom the love element is so evolved as to dominate all other emotions, count all things valueless when compared with the intense affection they bear for their nearest and dearest ones? To them death is the synonym of despair, for when their dear ones pass into the Silence only despair and darkness of mind remain. But our hopes are high for the success of the Mission; for at last through the ceaseless efforts of Spirits of many Spirit Worlds the inner consciousness of the Entoans is being so aroused that in their despair, blindly they are reaching out for relief. More wonderful still, my kinsman, Omanos Fûnha̤, Osy Hûn, listens with rapt attention as his child Valloa̤ relates her wondrous experiences, which he no longer regards as the vagaries of a diseased brain, but begs her to repeat again and again the story of her beatific visions. Valloa̤ stands upon the threshold of our Spirit Realms, and her Inner senses are so unfolded that she sees and holds converse with her mother, with me and with other Spirits who minister to her. To her father and others about her she conveys messages from her mother, from me and from other Spirits. To her father she relates incidents known only to himself, and she whispers to him of private affairs, and he marvels at her knowledge and eagerly questions as to the source of her information. So rapidly are his Spiritual Senses unfolding that at any moment they may burst into bloom; then the old, hopeless beliefs will pass into oblivion.
Prince Dano, my young kinsman, who is Valloa̤'s betrothed, scarcely quits her presence, and his heart is heavy with grief, that his beloved one is so near the conclusion of her mortal existence; but with a strength born of the new faith, he cheers and consoles her. Constantly his cry is, "Courage, my Valloa̤, my own, for thou art not going into the dread, endless Silence, but into a gloriously beautiful world of living, loving ones. I, who for a time must remain on Ento, will ceaselessly proclaim the joyful tidings of continuous existence, and the swiftly fleeting years will pass, and then I shall come to thee, my beloved, mine own forevermore." Spiritually, he sees and hears with phenomenal clearness, and to all about him he earnestly proclaims his absolute faith in the declarations of the strange woman Gentola̤, and implicitly he relies upon your declarations and promises.
His father, Basto Andûlēsa̤, who was in despair over what he considered the lost mind of his son, now cherishes Dano's words as though they are the very strength of his life, and Ontellēna̤, Dano's gentle mother, smiles or weeps as she listens to her son's glowing portrayal of the life that is to be. Thus, Gentola̤, you perceive that the seed you have sown has germinated and gives promise of a harvest of joy inexpressible.
The hour draws very near when we no longer will be able to hold in her physical form our precious Valloa̤. When that hour shall arrive we well know that Spirit forces from many Spirit Realms will with you dear and devoted friends unite in a supreme effort to reveal to Omanos Fûnha̤ and others irrefutable knowledge of the continuity of life, and, Gentola̤, that which more than all else will hasten the acceptance of the new religion will be the promise and proof of escape from ever impending annihilation, from which Priests and people shrink with ever increasing horror. Unquestioningly the people have been obliged to accept the ancient faith, whose exponents, the Priesthood, have interpreted to fit their own ideas and ends; but, ceaselessly, evolution proceeds, and despite most unfavoring conditions the peoples of Ento now are prepared for the ushering in of a brighter day than ever has dawned upon their consciousness; and, like many others, I scarcely can await the culmination of this momentous event.
Yes, Ento possesses many Sensitives, but hitherto, to a greater degree than now, the aural atmosphere has been so positive as generally to prevent their approach by wholly freed Spirits. Being yet physically embodied, your Spirit body is of a less sublimated character than are those of wholly freed and advanced spirits who are visible only to certain Priests and Priestesses of inner sanctuaries, whose lives are most ascetic and in a sense Spiritualized. When, through the influence of the new religion, the hopeless mental state of the people shall yield to joyful expectation, the aural atmosphere gradually will grow penetrable, and Sensitives whom now we cannot approach will develop into Mediums through whom Spirits will communicate to mortals the glorious truth that their present existence is but a momentary experience of unending life. De L'Ester informs me that now you fully understand the aims of those conducting and assisting in this Mission, which, as you may know, is not an unusual one, for all revelations to mortals are the results of Spirit activities, and all Saviors are Missionaries Re-embodied for a fixed purpose, which, alas, is not always accomplished.
Valloa̤ being near the time of her release from her physical body these friends and I have arranged for constant communication between them and the watchers at Da̤o. Thus, until summoned thither, they may without further anxious thought, devote every possible moment to your instruction concerning Ento.
With you, Bernard, who stand so silently observant, ere long I shall make it my affair to become acquainted, and with you, Gentola̤, I rejoice to renew our friendship of a time when we were co-workers in an undertaking similar to this Mission. When you return to the Spirit side you will comprehend what now I must leave unexplained. Let these embraces assure you and this dear boy that as of yore I am your loving friend, Sylvian Ravvecta̤. And now, ēmanos, Info sta̤-tiva̤ Zēnosa̤a̤ oovistû. (To the care of the Angelic ones, until we again meet.)
De L'Ester—Gentola̤, it is arranged that constantly Sylvian shall be informed as to our movements, and as constantly she will keep us in touch with affairs at Da̤o, for in a few days we will be summoned there to share with others the responsibilities of a most momentous occasion. In the meantime we must improve the swiftly fleeting hours. To-day we have held you with us overlong, and now must return you to your home, over which the shadows of twilight are falling.
Bernard—Mother, dear, do not you think Sylvian very gracious and beautiful? Really, I felt quite abashed when she kissed and embraced me.