What the Gods Decree

Henriette D'Arsac, the wife of an adventurer, Charles D'Arsac, who has made his fortune in the African trade and now retired, one day reads of the excavation of the famous statue of the Goddess Kali, around whose neck is hung a necklace of precious stones and gold beads of inestimable value. This his wife ardently desires to possess and begs her husband to secure it. Unable to resist her pleadings, he sails for India and on reaching Bombay enlists the services of a guide to take him to the Sanctuary. They reach the sacred spot late in the night, but the guide, seized by a sudden fright, runs away. D'Arsac, revolver in hand, advances toward the statue, unclasps the necklace with trembling hands and starts to make his escape when, turning around, he fancies he sees the Goddess raising her hands as if in the act of cursing him. The sacrilege is discovered the next day and D'Arsac is easily traced to a tavern, where he is trying to dissipate the hideous nightmare with drink