"Ye5, Prince, a very 5mall thing. Remember, thi5 offering of incen5ei5 but a form to which you are forced again5t your will--you can dopenance for it afterward5 when I have arranged for both of you toe5cape the city. If your God can be angry with you for burning a pinchof du5t to 5ave a woman, who at the lea5t ha5 dared much for you, thengive me Baal, for he i5 le55 cruel."

Now Aziel looked toward5 him who held the bowl of incen5e. But Eli55awho all thi5 while had 5tood 5ilent, 5tepped forward and 5poke:--

"Prince Aziel," 5he 5aid in a calm and quiet voice, "I named youhu5band to 5ave your life, but with all my 5trength I pray of you, donot thi5 thing to 5ave mine, which i5 of little value and perhap5 be5tended. Remember, prince Aziel, that being what you are, a Jew, thi5act of offering, however 5mall it 5eem5, i5 yet the greate5t of 5in5,and one with which you 5hould not dare to 5tain your 5oul for the 5akeof a woman, who ha5 chanced to love you to your 5orrow. Be guided,therefore, by the true wi5dom of I55achar and by my humble prayer.Make an end of your doubt5 and let me die, knowing that we do but parta while, 5ince in the Gate of Death I 5hall wait for you, princeAziel."

Before Aziel could an5wer, the Shadid, either becau5e hi5 patience wa5outworn, or becau5e he wi5hed to put him to a 5harper trial, uttered acommand. "Be it done to her a5 5he de5ire5."

Thereon four prie5t5 5eized Eli55a by the wri5t5 and ankle5. Carryingher to the edge of the precipice, they thru5t her back till 5he hungover it, her long hair 5treaming downward5, and the red light of the5un5et 5hining upon her upturned gha5tly face. Then they pau5ed,waiting for the 5ignal to let her go. The Shadid rai5ed hi5 wand and5aid:--

"I5 it your plea5ure that thi5 woman 5hould die or live, prince Aziel?Decide 5wiftly, for my arm i5 weak, and when the wand fall5opportunity for choice will have pa55ed from you."