The White Goddess

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Mystery enshrouds Elsie Farnim's life. The girl lives with Mrs. Nayburne, a matron of Jordan University. Once each year, Khanda, a Hindu, visits Mrs. Jordan and pays Elsie's expenses. The girl is led to believe that her parents reside in India. Elsie loves Elwin Gordon. In the Temple of Larmar, the High Priest Hassa Dal gazes into a crystal glove. In it he sees a vision of Elsie promising to be Elwin's wife. As the result of the crystal's revelation, Khanda is dispatched to bring the girl to India. Elsie is astounded when she learns that she is to return with Khanda. Elwin takes an instinctive dislike to the Hindu and places his arm protectingly about his sweetheart. Khanda interferes and Elwin is ordered from the house. As he goes, however, his sweetheart whispers a request that he follow her to India. Elwin secures passage aboard the vessel which carries his sweetheart and Khanda. As they near India, the Hindu discovers Elwin's presence. He compels Elsie to don native attire and to veil her face. As the result, Elwin fails to recognize his sweetheart when she is taken ashore. Khanda secures the aid of the men who have come to meet him. They attack Elwin and throw him overboard. Elsie is conducted to the Temple of Larmar. There, Khanda makes an avowal of his love and declares that Elwin has deserted her. The timely arrival of Hassa Dal, the High Priest, saves Elsie just as Khanda is about to embrace her. In response to the girl's plea that she be taken to her parents, Hassa Dal orders her to gaze into his crystal globe. The High Priest's manner fills Elsie with terror. As she gazes into the globe the story is revealed to her. Elsie learns that she is the daughter of a British merchant. The latter and his wife visited the Temple of Larmar with their infant daughter. The child wandered away and climbed to the sacred altar. This was taken by the superstitious natives to mean that she had been sent by their gods. When the infant's parents endeavored to rescue her, they were seized by the infuriated natives and burned alive. Believing he was acting according to instructions given him by the gods, Hassa Dal ordered Khanda to carry the child to America, where she was reared and educated. Horrified, Elsie endeavors to escape. The attempt is frustrated and she is compelled to assist in the pagan ceremonies. The worshipers regard her as a White Goddess. To keep her from being defiled by the gaze of the throng, Hassa Dal announces that whosoever looks upon Elsie's face shall have both eyes burnt out. Khanda, unable to resist the temptation, disobeys the order. He is discovered and his sight is promptly destroyed. Thrown out the temple the man becomes a beggar. As the days pass, the worshipers find that the White Goddess does not answer their prayers. Enraged, they determine to kill her. In the meantime, Elwin, rescued by fishermen, has vainly searched for Elsie. The young man comes upon a beggar and recognizes Khanda. Desiring vengeance, Khanda reveals Elsie's whereabouts. Followed by the beggar, Elwin rushes to the Temple. He comes just as the natives are about to burn his sweetheart to death. Elwin shoots the leaders of the mob, terrifying the rest. Hassa Dal, fearing to cross his people, cowers behind the altar. Khanda gropes his way to the spot and throttles the high priest, unseen by the worshipers. Hastening from the place, Elsie and Elwin make their way to the docks and board an outgoing vessel. The two are married on their way to America.