sped the crosier which sparkled and
flashed with the brilliancy of the precious stones adorning it, the
Emperor felt that the invisible gods had approved of his design for the
solemn service for the dead and had prepared vestments for the High
Priest which would be worthy of the exalted position he would occupy in
the great ceremony.

"I hear that you want eight thousand taels for these articles," said
the Emperor to the two men, who stood respectfully before him.

"We are not anxious, your Majesty," replied one of the strangers,
"about the price. That is to us of very little importance. We have
mentioned this large sum simply to prevent any man of unworthy mind
from becoming their possessor.

"There is a peculiarity about that robe," he continued. "Any person of
pure and upright heart who wears it will be preserved from every kind
of disaster that can possibly assail him in this world. No sorrow can
touch him, and the schemes of the most malignant of evil spirits will
have no influence upon him. On the other hand, any man who is under
the dominion of any base passion, if he dares to put on that mystic
robe, will find himself involved in all kinds of calamities and
sorrows, which will never leave him until he has put it off and laid it
aside for ever.

"What we are really here for," he concluded, "is to endeavour to assist
your Majesty in the discovery of a priest of noble and blameless life
who will be worthy of presiding at the service you are about to hold
for the unhappy spirits in the Land of Shadows. When we have found him
we shall consider that our mission has been fulfilled, and we can then
return and report the success we have achieved."

At this moment despatches from high officials throughout the country
were presented to the Emperor, all recommending Sam-Chaong as the only
man in the dominions who was fit to act as High Priest in the proposed
great service. As Sam-Chaong happened to be then in the capital, he
was sent for and, being approved of by His Majesty, was at once
appointed to the sacred office, which he alone of the myriads of
priests in China seemed to be worthy of occupying.

The two strangers, who had been noting the proceedings with anxious and
watchful eyes, expressed their delight at the decision that had been
arrived at. Stepping up to Sam-Chaong with the most reverential
attitude, they presented him with the costly vestments which had
excited the wonder and admiration of every