the neighbourhood, were plain indications that the curses which his
falsely accused fellow-assistant had prayed the god to bring down on
the head of the guilty party were indeed coming fast and thick upon him.

A dread of coming evil took possession of him, and this so preyed upon
his mind that he began to lose his reason. He would go about muttering
to himself, and declaring that he saw devils. These fits grew upon
him, until at last he became raving mad, and had to be seized and bound
with ropes to prevent him doing injury to himself or to others. At
times he suffered from violent spasms of mania, while at others, again,
though undoubtedly insane, he was quiet and subdued. He would then
talk incessantly to himself, and bemoan the sad fact that the dread God
of the City was sending evil spirits to torment him because he had
purloined the hundred dollars belonging to his master.

By-and-by these random confessions attracted the attention of his
heart-broken father, who used to sit watching by his side, and they
became so frequent and so circumstantial, describing even where the
money had been hidden, that at last he determined to examine into the
matter. Investigations were made, and the whole sum was found in the
very place which the young man had mentioned in his delirium, and was
at once returned to the shopkeeper.

As the money had been given back, and the father and mother were
dependent upon their only son to provide for them in their old age, the
man who had entered the accusation before the god was entreated again
to appear before him in his temple and withdraw the charges that he had
previously made against his fellow-assistant. Only in this formal and
legal way could the god have official knowledge of the fact that
reparation had been made for the offence which had been committed; and
if this were not done he would still continue to send sorrow after
sorrow until the whole family were involved in absolute ruin or death.

Out of pity for the old couple the other young man consented to take
the necessary steps. He accordingly presented a petition to the god,
stating that he wished to withdraw the accusation which he had made
against a certain man who had been suspected of theft. The stolen
money had been returned to its owner, and the god was now besought to
stay all further proceedings and forgive the culprit for the wrong he
had done.

It was evident that this petition was granted, for at once the