The Western outlook., 1915-04-24

of Kali, and that l shall attend at the
temple tomorrow, when the annual
festival begins, to PROSTATE myself
before the goddess
The old priest watched him with a
serene face. He knew the struggle
that Mannering had gone through;
he knew, too, that the rajah would
not be oVerpleased at this dramatic
ending of all his plans for carving out
an idolatrous empire in the heart of
India.
1T shall be done as the sahib says,
he answered at last, and withdrew
The news buzzed through Bunda
pur. Within two hours all the inhan-
itants of the state knew that the god
dess Kali, of the many hands, had
conquered. The enthusiasm was IN
describable. A huge mob gathered
outside the residency and cheered
itself hoarse But inside Mannering
was pacing up and down. and he paced
all night, and none dared disturb him
At dawn he called the bearers OF
his palanquin, and. stepping inside, he
allowed himself to be borne through
the enthusiastic mobs that lined the
streets toward Kali's temple. Bun
dapur was en- fete. The opening OF the
great annual festival was the occa-
sion for frenzies of fanatical delight,
and the approaching conversion OF
Mannering was the cause of the wild
est excitement Through the streets
rushed fanatics, slashing themselves
with knives. The golden image of the
goddess was borne back from the pro-
cession to the accompaniment of
band of temple women, who danced
and leaped above the bodies of the
PROSTATE devotees.
Mannering, lying in his palanquin,
was aware of all this. He knew that
no punishment could expiate his Of
tense. He was giving to his country
that which was infinitely dearer than
life. His love, his soul, his honor
he stared at the photograph
which he was holding. 1t represented
Mary Trevethan as she had appeared
when he was home four years before.
He would never see her again, but
somehow he felt that, at this crisis
where dishonor and honor met, her
spirit stood beside him.
The palanquin stopped. The cur
tains were drawn back. Mannering
stepped out and entered the grotesque
| temple, walking ON path strewn with
| flowers. Inside he heard the throbbing
of flutes and the signs of vast multi
| tude of worshipers. Then he was be-
fore the altar, beside old Muzzur, who
held the sacrificial knife, and staring
into his eyes were the cruel eyes OF
Kali, the stone image with the many
hands, each dripping with human
blood.
Upon his golden throne lolled the
old rajah. He was calculating what
step he should take when Mannering
had accepted Kali. 1t upset the plans
that he had built; yet he was shrewd
enough to have others in view. With
Mannerings aid he could yet carve out
his empire.
Mannering, standing beside the
priest, let his eyes roam over the
huge interior of the temple. He saw
the decorated walls, the breathless
crowds, completely silent, waiting for
the moment when he would fall be-
fore Kali's statue, to be anointed with
the blood of the dreadful sacrifice, the
drawn curtains behind which the ra-
jah's wives were gazing curiously on
him.
And at the last moment, while the
sound of the tom-toms indicated that
the goddess was awaiting the sacrifice,
| a new thought took possession of Man.
nering. He could not carry out his
plan.
He perceived the hideous pit into
which he had so nearly fallen. The
world would ascribe his complaisance
to fear; it would be said that an Eng
lishman had accepted Kali to save his
life. Was not the empire built upon
faith and loyalty, and the courage of
her servants? How could he serve it
better than by remaining true to his
faith, whatever happened?
1t was the moment of judgment,
when, unless he saw his duty clear as
a razor edge before him, incalculable
ills must follow. Mannering saw it.
The blood of the sacrifice was
drenching Kali's altar. Muzzur turned
| toward Mannering, motioning to him
to PROSTATE himself Mannering waved
him away and called to the crowd.
II have come here today he said,
ito testify to the truth. Since Eng.
land became your lord. when has she
sought to change your faith or Gus
toms? Nevertheless. am here to tell
you now that your faith in Kali is the
faith of the sandpiper that walks
among the marshes before the sand
has set"
He heard rustic, a sigh, and sud
denly the whole body of worshipers
was upon its feet in terror of the sac
rilege that was being accomplished
For, snatching from the priests
hand the hammer with which the vic
tim had been slaughtered, Mannering
brought it down upon the head of the
abominable idol And Kali, the many
handed goddess, fell from her pedes
tai and rolled. hideous thing, along
the temple floor.
Then, laying down the hammer,
Mannering awaited death. But since
none dared lay hands on him, he went
out into the street. He walked to the
residency and waited. Twenty min.
utes later he heard the mob come
roaring down the bazaar and toward
/ the Yeranda ON which he awaited them