396 CIIKISTIANITY IN CHINA, ETC. Pope, the Christians and missionaries of Kiptchak were thrown into consternation by the disgraceful fall of a Franciscan, who, however, soon consoled them by his admirable penitence.* Stephen, a Hungarian by birth, had when very young taken the habit of the Minorite brothers; his ardent and passionate nature made him believe that he had a vocation for the apostleship, and that he should find in that career of self-devotion and sacrifice a channel for his superabundant energy. He was accordingly edu- cated for the priesthood and sent into Kiptchak, where the children of St. Francis were labouring successfully for the conversion of the infidels. Stephen was only twenty-five years old when he arrived at the convent of St. John, situated three miles from the great and opulent city of Serai. He had oc- casion to visit this capital of Kiptchak, and his eyes, accustomed until then to the stern and severe features of monastic life, were insensibly dazzled and fascinated by the luxury, pomp, and voluptuousness of this Oriental world, which the doctrines of Islamism were continually alluring to pleasure. When the monk was shut up in his poor cell, his ardent imagination often caused him to hear harmonious sounds like the echo of the brilliant fetes of Serai. His first ardour in the service of God soon began to cool ; he ceased to pray, his soul gave itself up to the soothing delusions of the world, and he had the misfortune to fall into that state of religious in- difference which rapidly leads to forgetfulness of duty
- "Wadding, arm. 1334, No. 4. La Chroniquc des Freres mineurs,
t. ii. p. 248. Feret, Abrege de la vie des Saints des trois ordres de St. Francois, t. ii. p. 328.
