hese gifted people declare--and
that is that in the guise of a priest Sam-Chaong did once more revisit
this world and delivered to the Buddhist Church the new ritual which
the Goddess of Mercy had prepared for it, and which is used to-day in
its services throughout the East.

VI

THE VENGEANCE OF THE GODDESS

In a certain temple in the northern part of the Empire, there once
lived a famous priest named Hien-Chung, whose reputation had spread far
and wide, not merely for the sanctity of his life, but also for the
supernatural powers which he was known to possess, and which he had
exhibited on several remarkable occasions. Men would have marvelled
less about him had they known that the man dressed in the long
slate-coloured robe, with shaven head, and saintly-looking face, over
which no one had ever seen a smile flicker, was in reality a pilgrim on
his way to the Western Heaven, which he hoped to reach in time, and to
become a fairy there.

One night Hien-Chung lay asleep in a room opening out of the main hall
in which the great image of the Goddess of Mercy, with her benevolent,
gracious face, sat enshrined amidst the darkness that lay thickly over
the temple. All at once, there stood before him a most striking and
stately-looking figure. The man had a royal look about him, as though
he had been accustomed to rule. On his head there was a crown, and his
dress was such as no mere subject would ever be allowed to wear.

Hien-Chung gazed at him in wonder, and was at first inclined to believe
that he was some evil spirit who had assumed this clever disguise in
order to deceive him. As this thought flashed through his mind, the
man began to weep. It was pitiable indeed to see this kingly person
affected with such oppressive grief that the tears streamed down his
cheeks, and with the tenderness that was distinctive of him Hien-Chung
expressed his deep sympathy for a sorrow so profound.

"Three years ago," said his visitor, "I was the ruler of this 'Kingdom
of the Black Flower.' I was indeed the founder of my dynasty, for I
carved my own fortune with my sword, and made this little state into a
kingdom. For a long time I was very happy, and my people were most
devoted in their allegiance to me. I little dreamed of the sorrows
that were coming on me, and the disasters which awaited me in the near
future.

"Five years ago my kingdom was visited with a very severe drought. The
rains ceased to fall; the stre