ANDREW. [Ardently, drawing closer.] And saw his face!
[Drawing his cowl lower and taking Andrew's arm, The Figure leads him up on the embankment, where they stand together.
THE FIGURE. Hark a-yonder!
ANDREW. [Listening.] Is it thunder?
THE FIGURE. Have ye forgot?
ANDREW. The voice! I remember now—Niagara!
[With awe, Andrew looks toward The Figure, who stands shrouded and still, facing the dawn. From far off comes a sound as of falling waters, and with that—a deep murmurous voice, which seems to issue from The Figure's cowl.
THE VOICE. I am the Voice that was heard of your fathers, and your fathers' fathers. Mightier—mightier, I shall be heard of your sons. I am the Million in whom the one is lost, and I am the One in whom the millions are saved. Their ears shall be shut to my thunders, their eyes to my blinding stars. In shallow streams they shall tap my life-blood for gold. With dregs of coal and of copper they shall pollute me. In the mystery of my mountains they shall assail me; in the majesty of my forests, strike me down; with engine and derrick and millstone, bind me their slave. Some for a lust, some for a love, shall desert me. One and one, for his own, shall fall away. Yet one and one and one shall return to me for life; the deserter and the destroyer shall re-create me. Primeval, their life-blood is mine. My pouring waters are passion, my lightnings are laughter of man. I am the One in whom the millions are saved, and I am the Million in whom the one is lost.
ANDREW. [Yearningly, to The Figure.] Your face!
[The Figure turns majestically away. Andrew clings to him.