and fortified by arguments against the theory of hallucination. These
early experiences are, however, of minor importance, nor need I again
refer to the sensational incidents which accompanied her initiation as
Templar-Mistress at the Paris Triangle of Saint-Jacques; but it appears
from her memoirs that the intervention of Albert Pike was not in virtue
of the supremacy of his personal authority, and that the ordeal of
sacrilege was spared her by the clemency of Lucifer himself, who is
supposed to appear in person at the Sanctum Regnum of Charleston and to
instruct his chiefs, _Deo volente_ or otherwise, every Friday, the
supreme dogmatic director, who had made his home in Washington, having
the gift of "instantaneous transportation," whensoever he thought fit to
be present in the "divine" board-room.

On the 5th of April 1889, the "good God" assembled his Ancients and
Emerites for a friendly conversation upon the "case" of Diana Vaughan,
and ended by requesting an introduction in three days' time. After the
best manner of the grimoires, Miss Vaughan began her preparations by a
triduum, taking one meal daily of black bread, fritters of high-spiced
blood, a salad of milky herbs, and the drink of rare old Rabelais. The
preparations in detail are scarcely worth recording as they merely vary
the directions in the popular chap-books of magic which abound in
foolish France. At the appointed time she passed through the iron doors
of the Sanctum Regnum. "Fear not!" said Albert Pike, and she advanced
_remplie d'une ardente allegresse_, was greeted by the eleven prime
chiefs, who presently retired, possibly for prayer or refreshments,
possibly for operations in wire-pulling. Diana Vaughan remained alone,
in the presence of the Palladium, namely, our poor old friend Baphomet,
whom his admirers persist in representing with a goat's head, whereas he
is the archetype of the ass.

The Sanctum Regnum is described as triangular in shape; there was no
torch, no lamp, no fire; the floor and the ceiling were therefore not
unnaturally dark, but an inexplicable veil of strange phosphorescent
light was diffused over the three walls, the source of which proved on
examination to be innumerable particles of greenish flames each no
larger than a pin's head. Seated in front of the Baphomet, Miss Vaughan
apostrophised Lucifer sympathetically on the subject of the unpleasing
form in which he was represented by his worshippers, and as she did so
the