right I could see the tall, white tower of Cloomber standing
out clear-cut and sharp against a dark cloud-bank which rose behind it.
I thought how any traveller who chanced to pass that way would envy in
his heart the tenant of that magnificent building, and how little
they would guess the strange terrors, the nameless dangers, which were
gathering about his head. The black cloud-wrack was but the image, I
reflected, of the darker, more sombre storm which was about to burst.

"Whatever it all means, and however it happens," I ejaculated, "God
grant that the innocent be not confounded with the guilty."

My father, when I reached home, was still in a ferment over his learned
disputation with the stranger.

"I trust, Jack," he said, "that I did not handle him too roughly. I
should remember that I am _in loco magistri_, and be less prone to argue
with my guests. Yet, when he took up this most untenable position, I
could not refrain from attacking him and hurling him out of it, which
indeed I did, though you, who are ignorant of the niceties of the
question, may have failed to perceive it. You observed, however, that my
reference to King Asoka's edicts was so conclusive that he at once rose
and took his leave."

"You held your own bravely," I answered, "but what is your impression of
the man now that you have seen him?" "Why," said my father, "he is
one of those holy men who, under the various names of Sannasis, Yogis,
Sevras, Qualanders, Hakims, and Cufis have devoted their lives to
the study of the mysteries of the Buddhist faith. He is, I take it, a
theosophist, or worshipper of the God of knowledge, the highest grade of
which is the adept. This man and his companions have not attained
this high position or they could not have crossed the sea without
contamination. It is probable that they are all advanced chelas who hope
in time to attain to the supreme honour of adeptship."

"But, father," interrupted my sister, "this does not explain why men of
such sanctity and attainments should choose to take up their quarters on
the shores of a desolate Scotch bay."

"Ah, there you get beyond me," my father answered. "I may suggest,
however, that it is nobody's business but their own, so long as they
keep the peace and are amenable to the law of the land."

"Have you ever heard," I asked, "that these higher priests of whom you
speak have powers which are unknown to us?"

"Why, Eastern literature is full of it. The Bible is