Artiole Iv.

the gallery for some distance farther . On each side are placed in Mches colossal statues , in the aititude of mummies , aAvaiting the hour of resurrection . The lamp with AvMch , at the commencement of the ceremoMes , he had been furnished , casts but a glimmering light aroundscarcely sufficient to make

, ' darkness "risible . ' Spectres seem to menace at every step ; but on Ms nearer approach they vaMsh into any nothingness , At length he reaches an iron door , guarded by three men armed Avith swords , and disguised in masks . resembling the heads of jackals . One of them addresses Mm as folloAvs : —

' We are not here to impede your passage . Continue your journey , if the gods have given you the power and strength to do so . But remember , if you once pass the threshold of that door , you must not dare to pause , or attempt to retrace your steps ; if you doyou Avill find us here prepared to

, oppose your retreat and to prevent your return . ' HaAring passed tMough the door , the candidate has scarcely proceeded fifty steps before he is dazzled by a brilhant light , whose intensity augments as he advances . He now finds himself in a spacious

hall , filled Avith inflammable substances in a state of combustion , whose flames pervade the whole apartment , and form a bower of fire on the roof above . Through tMs it is necessary that he should pass Avith the greatest speed , to avoid the effects of the flames . To tMs peril succeeds another . On the other side of tMs fiery furnace the floor

of the hall is garMshed Avith a huge network of redhot iron bars , the narrow Mterstices of wMch afford the aspirant the only chances of a secure footmg . Having surmounted tMs difficulty by the greatest address , another and unexpected obstacle opposes Ms farther progress . A Avide and rapid

canal , fed from the waters of the Nile , crosses the passage he is treading . Over this stream he has to SAvim . Divesting himself , therefore of Ms garments , he fastens them in a bundle upon the top of Ms head , and holdMg Ms lamp , wMch now affords him

all the light that he possesses , Mgh above the Avater , he plunges in and boldly swims across . On arriving at the opposite side he finds a narroAV landbg-place , bounded by two Mgh walls of brass , into each of AvMch is inserted an immense Avhoel of the same metal , and terminated b y an ivory door . TMs of course the aspirant attempts to open , but Ms efforts arc in vain . The

door is unyielding . At length he espies tAvo large rmgs , of which he immediatel y takes hold , m the expectation that they ^ afford him the means of effectmg an entrance . But what are his surprise and terror when he beholds the brazen wheels revolvo upon their axles with a formidable rapidit

y and [ stunning noise ; the platform sinks from under him , and he remains suspended by the rings over a fathomless abyss , from wMch issues a chilling blast of Avind ; his lamp is extingMshed , and he is left in pro . found darkness . For more than a minute

he remains in tMs unenvi able position , deafened by the noise of the revolving wheels , chilled by the cold current of air . and dreading lest Ms strength shall fail him , when he must Mevitably be precipitated into the yaAvning gulf below . But by

degrees the noise ceases , the platform resumes its former position , and the aspirant is restored to safety . The ivory door now spontaneously opens , and he finds Mmself in a brilliantly illuminated apartment , in the midst of the priests of Isis , clothed in tlio

mystic insignia of their offices , who welcome Mm , and congratulate him on his escape from the dangers Avhich have menaced him . In this apartment he beholds the various symbols of the Egyptian mysteries , the occult signification of which is by degrees explained to Mm . But the ceremonies of initiation do not cease here . The candidate

is subjected to a series of fastings , which gradually increase in severity for nine times nine days . During this period a rigorous silence is imposed upon Mm , which , if he preserve it Mviolable , is at length rewarded by his receiving a full revelation of the esoteric knowledge of the rites . TMs

instruction took place during Avhat was called the twelve days of manifestation . He ivas conducted before the triple statute of Osiris , Isis , and Horus , where , bending the knee , he was clothed with the sacred garments , and croAvned with a Avreath of palm ; a torch

Avas placed in Ms hand , and he was made to pronounce the following solemn obligation : — ' I sAvear never to reveal , to any of the uninitiated , the things that I shall sec in this sanctuary , nor any of the knowledge that shall be commuMcated to I C ( "J

me . as Avitnesses to my promise the gods of heaven , of earth and hell , and I invoke their vengeance on my head if I should ever wilfully violate my oath . ' ( To be continued . )