s away?" and he fixed his burning
gaze on Mesa. "Priestess, you plotted this that you might succeed to the
throne of Baaltis; now hear your fate: You shall live to sweep the
huts and bear the babes of savages. You, priest," and he pointed to the
Shadid, "I read your heart; you design to murder this apostate whom you
greet as your successor that you may usurp his place. I show you yours:
it lies in the bellies of the jackals of the desert.

"For you priests and priestesses of El and Baaltis, think of my words,
and raise the loud song of triumph to your gods when you yourselves are
their offering, and the red flame of the fire burns you up, all of you
save your sins, which are immortal. O citizens of an accursed city, look
on the hill-top yonder and tell me, what do you see in the light of the
dying day? A sheen of spears, is it not? They draw near to your hearts,
you whose day is done indeed, citizens of an accursed city whereof the
very name shall be forgotten, and the naked towers shall become but a
source of wonder to men unborn.

"And now, O priest, having said my say, as you bid me, I make my
offering upon your altar."

Then, while all stood fearful and amazed, Issachar the Levite sprang
forward, and seizing the ancient image of Baaltis, he spat upon it and
dashed the priceless consecrated thing down upon the altar, where it
broke into fragments, and was burned with the fire.

"My offering is made," he said; "may He whom I serve accept it. Now
after the offering comes the sacrifice; son Aziel, fare you well."

*****

For a few moments a silence of horror and dismay fell upon the assembly
as they gazed at the shattered and burning fragments of their holy
image. Then moved by a common impulse, with curses and yells of
fury, the priests and priestesses sprang from their seats and hurled
themselves upon Issachar, who stood awaiting them with folded arms. They
smote him with their ivory rods, they rent and tore him with their hands
and teeth, worrying him as dogs worry a fox of the hills, till at length
the life was beaten and trampled out of him and he lay dead.

Thus terribly, but yet by such a death of martyrdom as he would have
chosen, perished Issachar the Levite.

Unarmed though he was, Aziel had sprung to his aid, but Metem and
Sakon, knowing that he would but bring about his own destruction, flung
themselves upon him and held him back. Whilst he was still struggling
with them the end came, and Issachar g