e again it was to
Lazarus. "There is a reason the money-changer is an enemy of our
friend Jesus. It may be the woman. But in the money-changer's
balances where gold doth weigh heavy, women weigh light. It is more
likely this cometh of the swift and terrible scourging suffered by the
money-changers at the hand of our brave friend. If so, a third source
of danger ariseth. The wrath of Pilate is the wrath of Rome--a
political danger--ever deadly. The wrath of the High Priest Annas is a
religious wrath, cunning, and cruel as the grave. But the wrath of
Zador Ben Amon is both these and more, for hath not the Master himself
said, 'The love of money is the root of _all_ evil'? Protected must
our friend be against this threefold danger until he can escape, and
God forbid that he fall into the hands of the enemy!"

"Yea--God forbid," Mary repeated with trembling voice. "Thinkest thou
harm hath befallen him so soon? See--the sun is sinking, yet he cometh
not!" Choking back a sob Mary went into the court and to the place at
the wall where she could watch down the roadway.

"Mary hath gone to watch for the Master," Martha said.

"She loveth him much," Joseph answered thoughtfully.

"Even so. Yet it is not seemly for a Jewish woman to let a man know
she loveth him as doth Mary."

"Would that I knew," said Joseph without answering Martha's remark,
"whether the voice in the tomb were the voice of the Great Sanhedrin.
The spirit of murder brooded over the meeting I did attend
to-day--murder in the name of Moses and the prophets."

"Murder thou sayest!" Lazarus exclaimed in astonishment.

"Yea--murder. Such is the spirit brooding over the priests."

The silence following this declaration was broken by a sharp cry coming
from Mary in the garden. "Martha! Lazarus! Father Joseph!" and her
voice was tense with excitement.

"What? What?" they cried, rushing to the door.

"The God of our fathers be praised!'"

"Yea--yea--but for what?"

"He is safe! He is safe! The Master cometh!"

CHAPTER XXV

IN THE GARDEN

The Passover moon was shedding its soft light over the garden of
Lazarus, when Mary and Martha came from the house and sat down on the
broad rim of the fountain basin. The day had been a busy one, and the
day to follow was to be crowded yet fuller with work and pleasure for
it was the day of the Great Feast.

"Anna's father doth give a feast to-morrow for his Passover guests, and
for Jesus,