Only for a moment; then his pen was gliding rapidly over the spotless
surface, and the first page, when laid aside, bore the following
inscription: "To one from the outer world, whose identity is hidden among the
secrets of the past: "With the hope that when the veil is lifted these pages may assist
him in uniting into one perfect whole the strangely disjointed
portions of his life, they are inscribed by "JOHN DARRELL."
Below was the date, and then followed the words,-"Until the day break, and the shadows flee away."
After penning the last words he paused, repeating them, vainly trying to
recall when or where he had heard them. They seemed to ring in his ears
like a strain of melody wafted from some invisible shore, and blending
with the minor undertone he caught a note of triumph. They had come to
him like a voice from out the past, but ringing with joyful assurance
for the future; the assurance that the night, however dark, must end in
a glorious dawning, in which no haunting shadow would have an
abiding-place.