Ethel M. Dell
Reading edition
Author of The Way of an Eagle, The Hundredth Chance, etc.
1919
I DEDICATE THIS BOOK TO
MY DEARLY-LOVED
ELIZABETH
AND TO THE MEMORY OF HER GREAT GOODNESS
WHEN SHE WALKED IN THE
DESERT WITH ME
"He led them all the night through with a light of fire."
PSALM lxxviii, 14
Lamps that gleam in the city, Lamps that flare on the wall, Lamps that shine on the ways of men, Kindled by men are all. But the desert of burnt-out ashes, Which only the lost have trod, Dark and barren and flowerless, Is lit by the Hand of God. To lighten the outer darkness, To hasten the halting feet, He lifts a lamp in the desert Like the lamps of men in the street. Only the wanderers know it, The lost with those who mourn, That lamp in the desert darkness, And the joy that comes in the dawn. That the lost may come into safety, And the mourners may cease to doubt, The Lamp of God will be shining still When the lamps of men go out.
PART I
I.—BEGGAR'S CHOICE
II.—THE PRISONER AT THE BAR
III.—THE TRIUMPH
IV.—THE BRIDE
V.—THE DREAM
VI.—THE GARDEN
VII.—THE SERPENT IN THE GARDEN
VIII.—THE FORBIDDEN PARADISE
PART II
I.—THE MINISTERING ANGEL
II.—THE RETURN
III.—THE BARREN SOIL
IV.—THE SUMMONS
V.—THE MORNING
VI.—THE NIGHT-WATCH
VII.—SERVICE RENDERED
VIII.—THE TRUCE
IX.—THE OASIS
X.—THE SURRENDER
PART III
I.—BLUEBEARD'S CHAMBER
II.—EVIL TIDINGS
III.—THE BEAST OF PREY
IV.—THE FLAMING SWORD
V.—TESSA
VI.—THE ARRIVAL
VII.—FALSE PRETENCES
VIII.—THE WRATH OF THE GODS
PART IV
I.—DEVIL'S DICE
II.—OUT OF THE DARKNESS
III.—PRINCESS BLUEBELL
IV.—THE SERPENT IN THE DESERT
V.—THE WOMAN'S WAY
VI.—THE SURPRISE PARTY
VII.—RUSTAM KARIN
VIII.—PETER
IX.—THE CONSUMING FIRE
X.—THE DESERT PLACE
PART V
I.—GREATER THAN DEATH
II.—THE LAMP
III.—TESSA'S MOTHER
IV.—THE BROAD ROAD
V.—THE DARK NIGHT
VI.—THE FIRST GLIMMER
VII.—THE FIRST VICTIM
VIII.—THE FIERY VORTEX
IX.—THE DESERT OF ASHES
X.—THE ANGEL
XI.—THE DAWN
XII.—THE BLUE JAY