****************************************************** PR # 42178 We propose to study a ``complete'' set of distant ($z\approx 0.3-0.4$) luminous ($L_x \approx 10^{45}$ ergs s$^{-1}$ or greater) clusters which complements the generally less luminous sample of EMSS clusters at $z\approx 0.3$ observed with ASCA. The proposed clusters represent the extreme upper end of the cluster luminosity function and will probe the nature of the negative evolution reported for the cluster X-ray luminosity function. We propose to measure the temperature and heavy element abundance in the intracluster medium for a comparison with the most luminous present epoch clusters. With 8 clusters we can make a meaningful initial comparison of the properties of present epoch and distant clusters and compute a high redshift cluster temperature distribution function. ******************************************************