ing to throw herself into it, when the
fisherman in a loud and commanding voice told her to stop.

He then asked her what was the matter and what reason there was for her
to sacrifice her life in the river.

"I am a most unhappy woman," she replied. "On my way home just now I
was waylaid by a footpad, who robbed me of some money that I was taking
back to my husband. This money was to pay a debt we owed to a man who
threatens us with the severest penalties if we do not give it to him
to-day. Far rather would I face death than see the sorrow which would
overwhelm my husband if I told him my sorrowful story."

Having asked her how much money had been taken from her, the fisherman
presented the woman with the exact amount, and soon she was proceeding
with joyful footsteps in the direction of her home.

That same evening the fisherman was again visited by the spirit who had
bidden him an eternal farewell the previous evening.

"What did you mean," asked the visitor, "by depriving me of the one
chance I had of gaining my freedom?"

"I could not bear to see the sorrow of the poor woman," replied the
fisherman, "nor to think of the tragedy to her home had she perished in
the stream, and so I saved her." With eloquent lips he proceeded to
describe the beauty of benevolence, and urged upon his guest the nobler
course of trying to save life even at the expense of his own happiness.
In the end the latter was so deeply moved that he promised never again
to make any attempt to gain his liberty through another's death, even
though this should mean that he would have to spend long ages of misery
in the fatal stream.

Years went by, and yet for the imprisoned spirit there came no release.
Cases of suicide or accidental drowning in the flowing stream ceased
altogether. Many a life that would have perished was saved from
destruction by mysterious warnings which came from the sullen water,
and which terrified away the would-be suicides as they were about to
hurl themselves into it.

At length Kwan-yin, the Goddess of Mercy, moved by the sight of such a
generous sacrifice of self in order to save the souls of unfortunate
people who had become weary of life, released this noble spirit from
its watery prison. Moreover, as she felt convinced that such a man
could safely be entrusted with the destinies of those who might appear
before his tribunal, she made him a god and decreed that temples should
be erected to him in every town