Algebras between C *(X) and C(X) that are closed under countable composition

Let be the algebra of all real-valued continuous functions on a completely regular space X, and the subalgebra of bounded functions. We show that the space of real maximal ideals of an intermediate algebra between and is a -embedded closed subspace of the product of with a product of copies of the real line. We make use of this embedding to provide a new characterization of the intermediate algebras that are closed under countable composition, and to exhibit an example of an intermediate algebra on that is closed under countable composition but not isomorphic to any .