of culture, men of noble rank, followed: all were greeted with loud
acclaim. Then came again the tones of tibia, cithara, and many-sounding
instruments playing the music of Diana, no fierce trumpetings, but
sweetest melody, soft, peaceful, and joyful. In the rhythm were the fall
of dew, the swing of the sickle, the song of the reapers, the lowing of
cattle and laughter of children at play, and the mother's murmur of love
as she hushed her babe to rest.

The vast procession moved onward with songs and hymns innumerable, and
music and melody mingled in harmony to the Queen of Nature, Queen of
Hades, Queen of Heaven, telling the story of her many attributes.

The vast pageant had gone--gone by the way of the great theatre, around
Mount Pion and the Stadium to the Sacred Grove and the Temple.

* * * * *

Two men remained behind; they were strangers to each other.

One was Chios, the other a man short in stature, roughly clad, with eyes
full of fire and possessed of great intelligence. He neither knelt nor
applauded whilst the procession passed, but stood a stern spectator.
One could see at a glance he was not a worshipper of the mighty Diana.
Possessed of a firm, steadfast, thoughtful look, it stamped him as a
character of no mean order. Who could he be? And why there at such a
time, neither accepting nor opposing the worship of the city goddess?

He was one of the chief of the sect who followed the Christ of Nazareth,
and had come to Ephesus to war against the Old with a New Creed.

Seeing him alone, and apparently poor, Chios, with that kindness ever
characteristic of him, drew nigh, saying:

'Hail, fellow voyager! How didst thou like the mighty gathering of all
that is power, truth, and loveliness in Ephesus?'

Then replied he:

'The kingly power and loveliness passed by in yonder show, but the truth
was not there.'

'How sayest thou this, friend? Art thou not a worshipper of our great
goddess Diana?'

'No.'

'What, then, dost thou worship?'

'I worship God.'

'And canst thou not worship God and adore her?'

'No.'

'Why?'

'Because God is a spirit and demands spiritual worship. He is a jealous
God, and will have no other gods before Him.'

'Now, pray tell me,' said Chios, 'why of necessity should we worship
your Deity? In what particular does He differ from Diana? She also is a
great spirit. Why multiply gods and worship another?'

'Listen, young man. There is but