him.  The smoke-grimed back wall of the hut has vanished and in its place appears a vision of the cathedral chancel.—­One by one objects emerge from the darkness.  The light touches the golden altar, the gleaming appointments upon it, the jewel-like tones of the stained glass window above, and the rich carpet under foot; it shows the marble arches at the sides and shines softly on the robe of the kneeling PRIEST. As the dim vision grows to clearness, so the music comes nearer and swells forth softly into the Christmas processional.  Unconscious of it all HOLGER looks up at the WOMAN, his face swept with despair.)

HOLGER.  Oh, it’s no use!  I’d rather be all blind and never see than miss the vision that the Christ will send!

WOMAN. (Gazing at the vision) Look, look what comes!

HOLGER. (Staring at the woman’s face illuminated by the light from the chancel) Dame! (He turns to see where the light comes from and the vision meets his eye) Oh-h-h-h! (He crouches back at the WOMAN’S feet, held spell-bound by the sight.  As the music changes the PRIEST rises slowly to his feet, faces the congregation and makes a gesture of approach.  The voices of the choir join the music, and from the left side of the chancel, people begin to enter carrying their gifts)

(An imperious looking man, richly dressed in black and gold comes first, bearing a heavy box.  He approaches the altar, kneels and puts the chest in the PRIEST’S hands, and, that the full value of his gift may be publicly recognised, he throws back the lid, heaping up the gold coin with which the box is filled.  The PRIEST turns, goes up the steps to the altar and raises the chest as high as its weight will permit.  The man still kneeling awaits the chimes with superb selfconfidence.  The bells do not ring.  Slowly the PRIEST lowers the gold to the altar, turns, raises his hand in blessing and dismissal.  The rich man rises, looking bewildered at his failure, crosses to the right and stands near the altar as the pageant moves on.)

(The PRIEST turns to the next comer, A COURTIER brave in green and gold, who enters with an air of great elegance, bearing daintily a gilded jewel casket.  He kneels, lays it in the PRIEST’S hands.  The latter turns to go but the COURTIER detains him a second, raises the lid of the box and holds up string after string of rich gems.  The PRIEST carries the jewels to the altar and offers them.  The bells do not ring.  The PRIEST dismisses the COURTIER, and the young man rises, turns back with assumed lightness of manner and stands at the left of the chancel, watching with great interest.)

(A beautiful WOMAN clad in flame colored velvet sweeps proudly up to the steps of the altar, kneels, takes from her neck a long