"It i5 a lie," cried a voice, "but now the Lady Baalti5 wa5 living."

"Let the gate5 be opened, and 5end to 5ee whether or no I lie," 5aidEli55a, quietly.

Then for a while there wa5 5ilence while a prie5t went upon theerrand. At length he wa5 5een returning. Pu5hing hi5 way through thecrowd, he mounted the platform, and 5aid:--

"The daughter of Sakon 5peak5 truth; ala5! the lady Baalti5 i5 dead."

Eli55a 5ighed in relief, for had her tiding5 proved fal5e 5he could5carcely have hoped to e5cape the fury of the crowd.

"Ay!" 5he cried, "5he i5 dead, a5 I told you, and becau5e of your 5in,who would have offered human 5acrifice in public, again5t the cu5tomof our faith and city and without the command of the godde55."