christ, the World's Emperor
stood.

As he turned to face the millions of acclaiming people, a gun was fired
from the grounds of his palace, and at the same instant, a ball of
white, which had hung at the head of the flag-staff on the roof of his
palace, suddenly broke, and there swept out upon the light breeze, an
enormous white silk flag, the centre of which bore the mystic
inscription that had already appeared on the official programs, and
which he wore in gold jewels for a buckle of his bernouse.

The eyes of Apleon flashed with a curious pride as he saw the great
white flag break in the air, while a smile, diabolical as Hell itself,
curled his lips. It seemed almost as though it was to see that
damnable challenge flung forth to the wind, that he had turned, more
than to acknowledge the acclaim of the gathered millions of the
deceived, lie-deluded people.

A moment later, he turned into the Temple. The ten kings, Babylonian
merchant-princes, and others of note following.

George Bullen, walking directly behind the King of Syria, passed in
with the others.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE INVESTITURE.

A great hush fell upon those who gathered within that Temple. It was
not an awe from the sense of the divine--for God was not there in His
glory and power, since Anti-christ's spirit filled the place. It was
not the awe of silence and subjection to the world's greatest
ruler--though, presently, something of that would come upon those
gathered when they had eyes, ears, and mind for Apleon the Emperor.
Neither was the silence one of curiosity in the character of the
service in which they had been called to take part. The hush upon the
assembly was one of wonder and amaze at the splendour of the Temple's
interior in which they found themselves.

Gold--there was no silver--, precious stones, sandalwood, marbles such
as had never been seen by any eye before, all fashioned into a wondrous
style of architecture peculiarly unique, yet withal holding a perfect
harmony--such is (not a description, for a description, in detail would
baffle the clearest mind and cleverest pen)--a bold mention of a few of
the chief materials.

The artist--architect--he must have been as much an artist as an
architect to have designed the style--had taken _some_ ideas from the
description, in Ezekiel, of the Millennial Temple. There was the palm,
the cherub with two faces, (the young lion and the man) "so that the
face of a young lion was