hs of chosen seers, to declare
the will of Jehovah upon earth. To this faith, indeed, we still hold
fast, at least so far as that period and people are concerned, seeing
that we acknowledge Isaiah, David, and their company, to have been
inspired from above. Of that company Issachar the Levite was one, for to
him, from his youth up, voices had spoken in the watches of the night,
and often he had poured his warnings and denunciations into the ears
of kings and peoples, telling them with no uncertain voice of the
consequences of sin and idolatry, and of punishment to come. This Aziel,
who had been his ward and pupil, knew well, and therefore he did not
mock at the priest's dream or set it aside as naught, but bowed his head
and listened.

"I am honoured indeed," he said with humility, "that the destiny of my
poor soul and body should be a thing of weight to those on high."

"Of your poor soul, Aziel?" broke in Issachar. "That soul of yours, of
which you speak so lightly, is of as great value in the eyes of Heaven
as that of any cherubim within its gates. The angels who fell were the
first and chiefest of the angels, and though now we are clad with mortal
shape in punishment of our sins, again redeemed and glorified we can
become among the mightiest of their hosts. Oh! my son, I beseech you,
turn from this woman while there yet is time, lest to you her lips
should be a cup of woe and your soul shall pay the price of them,
sharing the hell of the worshippers of Ashtoreth."

"It may be so," said Aziel; "but, Issachar, what said the voice?
That this, the woman of your dream and I were one from the beginning?
Issachar, you believe that the lady Elissa is she of whom the voice
spoke in your sleep and you bid me turn from her because she will bring
me sin and punishment. In truth, if I can, I will obey you, since rather
than forswear my faith, as your dream foretold, I would die a hundred
deaths. Nor do I believe that for any bribe of woman's love I shall
forswear it in act or thought. Yet if such things come about it is fate
that drives me on, not my will--and what man can flee his fate? But even
though this lady be she whom I am doomed to love, you say that because
she is heathen I must reject her. Shame upon the thought, for if she is
heathen it is through ignorance, and it may be mine to change her heart.
Because I stand in danger shall I suffer her who, as you tell me, was
one with me from the beginning, to be lost in that