and now
it lies with me to provide some antidote which shall bring back the
vital forces and make him a living man once more.

"I have never had to do with such a serious case as this before, but I
have obtained from the Patriarch of the Taoist Church a small vial of
the Elixir of Life, which has the marvellous property of prolonging the
existence of whoever drinks it. We shall try it on the King and, as
there is no sign of vital decay, let us hope that it will be effective
in restoring him to life."

Turning to a desk that was kept locked, he brought out a small black
earthenware bottle, from which he dropped a single drop of liquid on to
the lips of the prostrate figure. In a few seconds a kind of rosy
flush spread over the King's features. Another drop, and a look of
life flashed over the pallid face. Still another, and after a short
interval the eyes opened and looked with intelligence upon the group
surrounding his couch. Still one more, and the King arose and asked
how long he had been asleep, and how it came about that he was in this
small room instead of being in his own palace.

He was soon restored to his family and to his position in the State,
for the usurper after one or two feeble attempts to retain his power
ignominiously fled from the country.

A short time after, Hien-Chung had a private interview with the King.
"I am anxious," he said, "that your Majesty should understand the
reason why such a calamity came into your life.

"Some years ago without any just reason you put to death a Buddhist
priest. You never showed any repentance for the great wrong you had
done, and so the Goddess sent a severe drought upon your Kingdom. You
still remained unrepentant, and then she sent one of her Ministers to
afflict you, depriving you of your home and your royal power. The man
who pushed you down the well was but carrying out the instructions he
had received from the Goddess. Your stay down the well for three years
was part of the punishment she had decreed for your offence, and when
the time was up, I was given the authority to release you.

"Kings as well as their subjects are under the great law of
righteousness, and if they violate it they must suffer like other men.
I would warn your Majesty that unless you show some evidence that you
have repented for taking away a man's life unjustly, other sorrows will
most certainly fall upon you in the future."

VII

"THE WONDERFUL MAN"

There is