ld! I will be following at no great distance--every
soldier or slave will know me--call me, and I will come to your aid."

"Father, give me your blessing," faltered Zarah.

"_My_ blessing!" ejaculated Pollux, drawing back; "does any one ask a
blessing from a wretch from whom it would sear and blast more than a
curse from the lips of another!"

"Oh, never say so!" cried Zarah. "You doing now what is
generous--noble--right! You are casting in your lot with the people of
God; like Lot, you are turning your back upon Sodom."

"And you are the angel leading me thence," exclaimed Pollux. "Oh,
Zarah, Zarah, sainted child of a sainted woman, you who have been the
first to cast a gleam of hope on the darkness of guilt and despair, if
ever I find mercy from man or from God, if ever I look again on the
face of my mother, if ever I escape the righteous doom of an apostate,
it is owing to you! Whatever be the result of our perilous enterprise
to-night, remember that I thank you, I bless you--and you shall be
blessed, O my daughter!" Pollux laid both his trembling hands on the
head of his kneeling child, and uttered for her the first prayer to the
true God which the apostate had dared to utter for many guilty,
miserable years.

CHAPTER XXV.

A RETROSPECT.

Hadassah had, in the meantime, been enduring the martyrdom of the heart.

When Zarah, under the escort of Abishai, left her home to attend the
celebration of the holy feast, Hadassah sent her soul with her, though
failing health chained back the aged lady's feeble body. In thought,
Hadassah shared the memorial feast; in thought, partook of the
sacrifice and joined in the hymns of praise. Her mind dwelt on the
circumstances attending the celebration of the first Passover, when,
with loins girded and staff in hand, the fathers of Israel had taken
their last meal in Egypt, before starting for the Promised Land.

"Is not this the _Promised Land_ still?" thought Hadassah; "though
those who are as the Canaanites of old now hold it--though unhallowed
worship be offered on Mount Zion, and images be set up within the walls
of Jerusalem. Yea, it is to Israel the Promised Land, till _every_
prophecy be fulfilled; till the King come to Zion, _lowly and riding on
an ass_ (Zech. ix. 9); till--oh, most mysterious word!--the thirty
pieces of silver be weighed out as the price of the Lord and cast to
the potter (Zech. xi. 12, 18); till He shall speak peace to the
heathen,