cut off for
ever from him whom she adored, cut off also from the hope of that new
spiritual light which had begun to dawn upon her soul.

Elissa looked upon the beautiful women who leapt and sang about her
litter, listening to the clash of their ornaments of gold, and as she
listened and looked her eyes seemed to gain power to behold the spirits
within them. Surely she could see these, dark and hideous things, with
shifting countenances, terrible to look on, and themselves wearing in
their eyes of flame a stamp of eternal terror, while in her ears the
music of their golden necklaces was changed to a clank as of fetters and
of instruments of torment. Yes; and there before the dancers in the red
cloud of dust which rose from their beating feet, floated the dim shape
of that demon of whom she had been chosen the high-priestess.

Look at her mocking, inhuman countenance, and her bent brow of power!
Look at her spread and flaming hair and her hundred hands outstretched
to grasp the souls of men! Hark! the clamour of the cymbals and the cry
of the dancers blended together and became her voice, a dreadful voice
that gave greeting to her princess, promising her pride of place and
life-long power in payment for her service.

"I desire none of these," her heart seemed to answer; "I desire him only
whom I have lost."

"Is it so?" replied the Voice. "Then bid him burn incense upon my altar
and take him to yourself. Have I not given you enough of beauty to snare
a single soul from among the servants of my enemy the God of the Jews?"

"Nay, nay!" her heart cried; "I will not tempt him to do this evil
thing."

"Yea, yea!" mocked the phantom Voice; "for your sake he shall burn
incense upon my altar."

*****

The phantasy passed, and now the golden gates of the palace of Baaltis
rolled open before Elissa. Now, too, the priestesses bore her to the
golden throne shaped like a crescent moon, and threw over her a black
veil spangled with stars, symbol of the night. Then having shut out the
uninitiated, they worshipped her after their secret fashion till she
sank down upon the throne overcome with fear and weariness. Then at last
they carried her to that wonder of workmanship and allegorical art, the
ivory bed of Baaltis, and laid her down to sleep.

*****

At dawn upon the following day an embassy, headed by Sakon, governor
of the city, in whose train were Metem and Aziel, went to the camp of
Ithobal. The mission of these envo