b of centuries! Ai, ai! O thou
unholy children, to doubt my word! Behold! Henceforth she shall share
the temple with the lion, and later she will give us prosperity, and my
name shall ever be in your households."

Having secured a priestess, he was now determined that he should not
lose her. The future was roseate indeed, and when he took his next
pilgrimage to holy Benares they would bestrew his pathway with lotus
flowers.

"Wood to start the sacred fires!" he commanded.

The villagers flew to obey his orders. He was indeed a holy man. Not
in the memory of the oldest had a miracle such as this happened. Upon
their return with wood and embers the holy man built the fire, handing
a lighted torch to Kathlyn and signifying for her to touch the tinder.
The spirit in Kathlyn told her that these people meant her no immediate
harm, so she stepped out of the sarcophagus and applied the torch. The
moment the flames began to crackle the villagers prostrated themselves
again and the holy man besmeared his bony chest with more ashes.

A second holy man appeared upon the scene, wanting in breath. His jaw
dropped and his eyes started to leave their sockets. Knowing his ilk
so thoroughly well, he flung himself down before the brazier and beat
his forehead upon the ground; not in any chastened spirit, but because
he had overslept that morning. This glory might have been his! Ai, ai!

Later the two conferred. During the day they should guard the
priestess, because, having taken human form, she might some day tire of
this particular temple. At night she would be well guarded by the lion.

Several awestricken women came forward with bowls of cooked rice and
fruits and a new copper drinking vessel. These they reverently placed
at Kathlyn's feet.

Gradually the spirit which had comforted Kathlyn withdrew, and at
length Kathlyn became keenly alive. It entered her mind clearly that
these poor foolish people really believed her a celestial being, and so
long as they laid no hand upon her she was not alarmed. She had
recently passed through too many terrors to be disturbed by a bit of
kindness, even if stirred into being by a religious fanaticism.

Kathlyn ate.

By pairs the villagers departed, and soon none remained save her
self-appointed guardians, the two holy men. Kathlyn felt a desire to
explore this wonderful temple. She discovered what must have been the
inner shrine. The chamber was filled with idols; her