Lives of Alcyone

they must either reach some part of the mountains where the people
did not owe allegiance to the Toltecs, or they must take refuge in a
nunnery; for when the country had yielded itself to the Toltec
government a special stipulation had been made that there should
be no interference with the religious institutions of the country, and
that the right of sanctuary should still remain to these. As Orion was
in weak and nervous state they were practically forced to the latter
alternative, and accordingly they applied to Helios, the abbess of a
great monastery which lay near their route. To her they revealed
their entire history, and she at once took them in and assured them
of her protection. Here they lived happily for many years, the only
incident of adjoining monastery, to obtain mesmeric influence over
Orion for improper purposes. This attempt was defeated by Sirius,
and Scorpio’ s trickery was revealed to Helios, who had him sent
away from the monastery.
The sinking of Poseidonis was foretold by the priests of the
northern race, and, though many did not believe or pay any
attention, there were also many who did. As the time approached,
the abbess called her great army of nuns together, and dramatically
described to them what was coming. She stated that as money
would soon no longer be required, all the great wealth of the convent
was at the disposal of those who wished to leave the country, and all
were left perfectly free to do what they chose. For herself she cared
little about life, and did not care to begin it all over again in a new
place as she was too old, and so she intended to stay and perish
with her country, upholding the flag of her order to the last. Sirius
and Orion, full of affection for her, and fixed by her enthusiasm,
resolved to stay with her, as did a good many of the nuns. More than
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