the necessary instructions, with many
exhortations to be steadfast in the way she had begun to walk. If she
remained firm to the end, they promised her what her heart desired, a
life hereafter without any suffering. Through her life as a vegetarian
she would be accumulating merit day by day, and would be able to lay up
such a large store for herself that she would not have to pass through
all the usual stages of transmigration in the next world, but would be
able to go straight to the goal she had set before her, the "Western
Heaven," or "Paradise."

Everlasting Pearl started as a vegetarian when she was twenty-two years
old, at the advice of the woman whom, from that time on, she adopted as
her mother. She did so in uprightness of heart, seeking after the
truth, and as determination and steadfastness were two very strong
traits in her character, she found it easier than many others to keep
to what she had promised.

Seldom had the vegetarian cause had a more decided and devout follower
than she was, and Everlasting Pearl soon won a name among the members
of her faith, and far beyond that circle. She was deeply respected,
not only for her steadfastness of purpose, but also for her general
conduct, which was in the eyes of men blameless. Every evening, when
her day's work was done, she would take down her beads, and, kneeling
down before the picture of Buddha, would repeat over and over again
_O-mi-to-fuh_--"In Buddha do I put my trust," counting her beads all
the time. Sometimes she continued till far into the night; thousands
of times she would count her rosary, trying to persuade herself that
she had found relief from her suffering. In reality her heart remained
empty and devoid of any true comfort. The longer she went on, the more
her assurance grew. After all, it was the next world she was working
for, and all things would come out right in the end.

But God, who looks upon the intents and motives of the heart, saw this
poor, struggling soul trying to grope her way in the darkness, and
determined to work out her own salvation, since she had no one to show
her the true way. In His love and pity He had laid up a better
inheritance for her, and in His own way, all unknown to her, He began
to lay His plans for bringing her into contact with His children and
the messengers of Peace. Slowly, but surely, all things worked
together for her good, and for the salvation of her soul.

CHAPTER X

WAYS NOT