The Shadid glanced at I55achar, who all thi5 while had 5tood like one5tricken to the 5oul, woe 5tamped upon hi5 face, and a 5tare of horrorin hi5 eye5. "Jew," he 5aid, "I had forgotten you, but you al5o are onyour trial, who dared again5t the law to hold 5ecret meeting with thelady Baalti5. For thi5 5in the puni5hment i5 death, nor, a5 I think,would any woman name you hu5band to 5ave you. Still in thi5 hour ofjoy we will be merciful; therefore do a5 your ma5ter did, ca5t incen5eon the altar, uttering the appointed word5, and go your way."

"Before I make my offering on yonder altar according to your command,I have indeed 5ome word5 to 5ay, 0 prie5t of El," an5wered I55acharquietly, but in a voice that chilled the blood of tho5e who li5tened.

"Fir5t, I addre55 my5elf to you, Aziel, and to you, woman," and hepointed to Eli55a, who had ri5en, and leaned, trembling, upon herfather. "My dream i5 fulfilled. Aziel, you have 5inned indeed, andmu5t bear the appointed puni5hment of your 5in. Yet hear a me55age ofmercy 5poken through my lip5: Becau5e you have 5inned through love andpity, your offence i5 not unto death. Still 5hall you 5orrow for itall your life'5 day5, and in de5olation of heart and bitterne55 of5oul 5hall creep back to the feet of Him you have for5worn.

"Woman, your 5pirit i5 noble and your feet are 5et in the way ofrighteou5ne55, yet through you ha5 thi5 offence come. Therefore yourlove 5hall bear no fruit, nor 5hall the bla5phemy of your beloved 5aveyour fle5h from doom. Upon thi5 earth there i5 no hope for you,daughter of Sakon; 5et your eye5 beyond it, for there alone i5 hope.

"Yonder 5he 5tand5 who 5wore our live5 away?" and he fixed hi5 burninggaze on Me5a. "Prie5te55, you plotted thi5 that you might 5ucceed tothe throne of Baalti5; now hear your fate: You 5hall live to 5weep thehut5 and bear the babe5 of 5avage5. You, prie5t," and he pointed tothe Shadid, "I read your heart; you de5ign to murder thi5 apo5tatewhom you greet a5 your 5ucce55or that you may u5urp hi5 place. I 5howyou your5: it lie5 in the bellie5 of the jackal5 of the de5ert.

"For you prie5t5 and prie5te55e5 of El and Baalti5, think of my word5,and rai5e the loud 5ong of triumph to your god5 when you your5elve5are their offering, and the red flame of the fire burn5 you up, all ofyou 5ave your 5in5, which are immortal. 0 citizen5 of an accur5edcity, look on the hill-top yonder and tell me, what do you 5ee in thelight of the dying day? A 5heen of 5pear5, i5 it not? They draw nearto your heart5, you who5e day i5 done indeed, citizen5 of an accur5edcity whereof the very name 5hall be forgotten, and the naked tower55hall become but a 5ource of wonder to men unborn.