I am master of my own destiny, and I can make my life anything that I wish it to be.

It was Friday afternoon, and I had returned from a late lunch. The employees had left for the day and I was alone in the office. Business had been dropping off steadily for some time, and I was concerned. I had also put far too great a percentage of my limited cash reserves into a risky investment that had been a failure. All in all, things didn't look good; in fact, I was facing some of the most serious problems of my business career.

As I was sitting in deep thought trying to resolve some of my problems, the phone rang. I heard the familiar voice of an old friend, and it startled me. Less than a month earlier, he had left for Europe on the urgent advice of his physician. He had been told to take an ocean voyage, in the hope that a change would improve his health. He had been deeply worried over conditions that, strangely, were very similar to what I was currently experiencing. He became so depressed that he had a serious breakdown.

My last impression of him as we parted was particularly sad: He was miserable, beaten and defeated, and I wondered if I would ever see him again. But here he was back again, and some great change had taken place in him. He spoke with such striking power and feeling that I told him a miracle must have happened. He assured me I had guessed right.

"I know you're surprised I'm back so soon; you probably never expected to see me again! But I'm back, and I'm the luckiest man in the world. I learned something that I never knew existed. Nothing is impossible for me any more. I can do anything. I am master of my own destiny, and I can make my life anything that I wish it to be. Now don't think I'm crazy — wait until you hear my story."

I laughed, but it was a laugh of surprise and concern. I asked if he had discovered some new kind of religion.

"Oh no, it concerns no religion of any kind. But I met a man, a man who is truly a Master, a wonderful man who has developed his powers so that he can do anything. He taught me an invaluable secret.

"You know that I lost my health and my money. Well, I have regained my health, and I will have new wealth in no time."

I was anxious to hear his story, of course, and we arranged to meet at our club that evening.

"Meet me there tonight, and I will unfold a series of the most remarkable things that could happen to anyone," he said.

I sat for a few minutes like someone in a dream, completely absorbed in the possibilities of what I might be told. I had the feeling that I had suddenly grown too big for my office — that I had outgrown the little place and had to get outside and expand in the fresh air.

I was feverish with excitement. I felt there was something wonderful for me in his story, and I couldn't wait to hear it. I spent the rest of the day restlessly pacing the streets, and was greatly relieved when the hour to go to the club finally arrived.

When I entered the club, I was told that my friend had called some time before to say something had come up and he couldn't make it until the following evening. As I was leaving, I ran into three friends who had seen him. Each was excited by the great changes that had taken place in him. I left without saying much; I felt miserable and disappointed. I walked out into the night, and went home.

I spent most of the night in restless confusion, too agitated for sleep. The whole thing had probably been conjured up in his mind while he was in his weak physical condition. How completely ridiculous to allow myself to become taken in by such a fairy tale.

But somehow the fairy tale kept forcing itself upon me, and I consoled myself with the thought that I would learn much more about the whole matter the next day.

Extraordinary things like this occur frequently to most of us, but we disregard them, because of our lack of understanding, and think they are mere coincidences.

My friend arrived at the club the next evening in a new, highpriced car. We drove in luxury to a nearby restaurant and there, in a private dining room, undisturbed by the presence of others, we had the opportunity to talk.

Some miraculous change had definitely taken place in him. He glowed with health and vitality, and he was calm and poised in a way that inspired admiration and confidence. I felt perfectly at ease in his company, yet I also felt the force of some presence in him that I could neither understand nor describe.

I found it difficult to conceal the emotions I was feeling. I felt convinced he had something I sorely needed, and I had the strangest fear that something might occur that would keep me from getting it.

We were silent at first for a moment, and then he asked if he looked different than he did the day he had left. I had to admit that he was both a revelation and a mystery to me. He began telling his story.

"When I left here, I had made such a mess of my life that I seriously considered suicide, but I feared death too much. I feared life as well, and I couldn't rest. My only relief was to keep moving — I guess I was what you would call a hopeless case.

"In a theater in London, I met a man who is called a Master. I am deeply grateful for the privilege of calling him my friend.

"As I look back on that evening in London, I now realize that my total despair and my intense longing to find something to relieve me drew me and my friend together. I had purchased an inexpensive seat at the theater, but discovered that for some unexplainable reason I had received an expensive box seat instead. Extraordinary things like this occur frequently to most of us, but we disregard them, because of our lack of understanding, and think they are mere coincidences. But I know differently now.

"I could feel that he was aware of my uneasiness, and also that he was an unusual person, for he seemed to have a wonderful kind of radiance about him. I felt an instinctive urge to open my heart to him. Something told me that I had the good fortune of being in the presence of one of those great spiritual people I had read about years ago. Believe it or not, I felt almost immediately at ease just being in his presence.

"After the performance, he invited me to accompany him to a nearby café. I noticed that the attention of those in the café was drawn to him as we entered, and that the management was especially respectful and courteous toward him. I had the feeling this man possessed some sort of magical power, and I was determined to ask him every question I could think of and — with his permission — take notes of his answers.

"He told me he was taking a cruise ship to New York the next day; I asked if I might accompany him, and he agreed. At the end of our talk, he merely wrote his initials on the bill. As we stepped outside to call a taxi, I asked him if he came to that café often. He said it was his first visit to the place, but assured me that the bill would be paid, saying 'I only initialed it just to show you that with the right attitude you can control every situation.'

"I was puzzled by what he meant, and hoped it would all become clearer to me later.

"That night,...