the light was clearcut; there were the
flowing line of the robe, and the conical shape of the hood, plain to
be seen and unmistakable.

There were several reasons why the apparition--although he was
habitually unimaginative outside the field of barks and chemicals it
did not occur to Simon Varr in that first moment to doubt that this was
truly a specter from another world--should startle him to the verge of
sheer fright. To begin with, there was something suggestive of Death
in that somber, motionless figure, and of death he had a horror. Then
it had come so pat on his bitter question of "What _next_?" that it
seemed indubitably an answer from some Power not of earth.
Finally--there was something about the figure that wasn't _right_--!

It spoke well for his spiritual courage that he was able to control his
nerves and conquer the trembling of his limbs within a few seconds, and
at the same time determine a course of immediate action. If this were
a human being it should be challenged; if it were a ghost, it should be
laid! He kept his eye fixed on the figure and deliberately took a step
toward it.

Instantly, the immobility of the being ceased. A long black arm was
flung up and outward in his direction, a silent command to him to stay
his steps.

His obedience was prompt, for now he knew what was wrong with the
apparition. Instinct had told him that the monk was confronting him,
regarding him closely, and the quick response to his attempted advance
was evidence enough that his instinct had not lied.

His mouth went dry, his brow exuded beads of perspiration. The monk
was facing him sure enough--and that was queer, for the monk _had no
face_!

_III: A Warning_

From the shock of that gruesome discovery, Simon Varr reeled back both
mentally and physically. Involuntarily, he threw up a hand to shield
his eyes, then got the best of his terror and fell to rubbing them,
pretending to himself that this had been the intention behind the
gesture; doubtless their vision was blurred and had deceived him into
thinking the unthinkable--

He dropped his hand presently, blinked once or twice and prepared to
make a more careful scrutiny of the monk's appearance. He was balked
in this courageous essay. The apparition, if such it were, had acted
in accordance with tradition and had vanished. While his eyes were
covered it had departed, whether to left or right or merely into thin
air he could not tell. He did