"Oh!" said Paul, and glanced swiftly again at Leather. He understood at last. Little as he knew of the subject (though he had heard Father Vassall speak of it), he knew that a man who studied Indian mysticism, and the Rev. Herbert Leather, C.M.S., Benares, would not have much in common. Leather could play most games and preach a "downright" Gospel sermon, but the Apostles were the only mystics in whom he believed and he would not have called them by that title. Even less than Dick was he metaphysical, and even more than Paul at his worst was he dogmatic. He spoke now. "As a matter of fact we are having a bit of an argument, Kestern," he said. "Mr. Childers seems to believe in Hinduism." "I never said that, Mr. Leather," put in Childers. The other shrugged his shoulders. There was something of contempt in the gesture, and the stranger seemed to read a challenge there. "I did say that we often did the Brahmin less than justice, and that the Yogi adept had usually true spirituality," he said. "Do you mean the fellows who sit on spikes and swing from hooks on festivals?" enquired Dick, bewildered. The other laughed a little, pleasantly. "That is not all they do, and, put like that, it certainly sounds foolish, but still those who are genuine among them, do sometimes show the complete power of spirit over matter in that way," he replied. "A pack of liars and scoundrels," said Leather hotly, brimming over. Childers' eyes flamed suddenly, and as suddenly the light in them died down. He kept his temper perfectly. "I do not think so," he said with serene control. "But you do not mean that they have any power which Christians have not got, surely?" queried Paul. "I do indeed," said Childers, "if you mean by Christians the average followers of Christ." Leather drummed with his fingers on the table. Paul stared into the other's face. There was something so subdued and yet so powerful about it, that he was very deeply interested. "Will you explain a little?" he asked. "We don't hear of these things from that point of view." "Well, Mr. Kestern, I do not know that there is much to explain. After all, prayer and fasting have a prominent place in all forms of Christian thought, have they not? And by prayer and fasting these men so subdue the body that the spirit in them can live almost independently of bodily aids, and even of itself affect material things." "Prayer to a false god never did that for a man," retorted Leather. "We should probably differ in our definition of false," returned Childers courteously. "But look here,"--the missionary leant over the table--"do you mean you've ever seen them do anything that was not a clever conjuring trick?" "Most certainly," said Childers. Leather threw himself back. "You can do the same yourself, I suppose," he sneered. "A little," said Childers, "though I am really a mere novice." The other completely lost his temper. "Show us then," he said curtly.