ere is there
another man on whom such guilt of blood doth rest? Alas! nevermore can
I appear before the face of the brethren. An outcast, hated and
abhorred everywhere--branded as a traitor by those who led me astray--I
wander about alone with this burning fire in my heart. There is still
one left. Oh! might I look on the Master's face once more, I would
cling to him as my only anchor. But he lies in prison, has perhaps
been already slain by the rage of his enemies, although by my guilt, by
my fault. I am the abhorred one who has brought him to prison and to
death. Woe to me, the scum of men! There is no hope for me, my crimes
can be expiated by no penance. For he is dead--and I, I am his
murderer! Thrice unhappy hour in which my mother gave me to the world!
Must I still drag on this life of agony and bear these tortures about
with me?--as one pest stricken, flee from men, and be despised and
shunned by all the world? No! I can bear it no longer! Not one step
further! Here, O life accursed, here will I end thee! On these
branches let the most disastrous fruit hang!" He untwined his girdle
and twined it about his neck. "Ha, ha! come, thou serpent, entwine my
neck and strangle the betrayer!"

As Judas spoke the last words he tied with convulsive and feverish
agony the long girdle around his neck, fastened it to the branch of the
tree, and swung himself off.

CHAPTER VII.

JESUS, PILATE AND HEROD.

Thus before Pilate's judgment seat
The council, full of passion's heat,
Come to demand Messiah's blood.
Oh, what has made them mad and blind?
And what has kindled in their mind
Of fury such a fiery flood?

'Tis envy which no mercy knows
In which hell's flame most fiercely glows--
Lights this devouring fire,
All's sacrificed unto its lust--
Nothing too sacred, good or just
To fall to its desire.
Oh, woe to those whom passion sweeps
Helpless and bound into the deeps.

Then went the high priests and the scribes, together with the rulers
and traders of the temple, and the witnesses, to the house of Pilate.
Jesus was led forth in front of them by Balbus and Malchus as before,
Selpha being in command of the band of soldiers. As they went the
soldiers shouted aloud, "Away with thee to death, thou false prophet!
Ha! doth it dismay thee that thou wilt not go forward?"

"Drive him on," said Selpha. But Jesus being weary walked with slow
footsteps.

Then the so