only the discomfiture of a defeat at the hands of Belshazzar. He had lost much that it had been his

e built up into a successful rumor which, spread through the city, would form the first step in the long flight from the

sky-god. Then, when the temporal ruler became a man apart, when the office was secular, and when Babylon had writhed under the lash of Nineveh, the people had always their religion. The high-priest and his seers became more than ever absolute; ruling king and slave by means of unreasoning superstition; while in the houses of the priesthood the gods were regarded as an amusing myth. But now-now-for two years past, all Ba

taqut?, the second boulevard of Babylon, and from there to the great temple of Marduk, the largest building in the city, but second in size to that of Bel in Borsip, he went. By now the sacrifice and heave-offerings for the aft

rance. He had not reached the platform itself when his eye was caught by a figure in front of him moving slowly towards the temple door. It was a lean and sorry figure, ill-clo

goest not into the h

for my haunch of the day's heave-offering. God par

ily. But since when

est, who, having motives for policy, suddenl

or something better, shall be sent to thine abo

. His back was to the light, and he motioned his companion to a seat whereon the last gleams of dying sunlight would fall direct from the small window behind the priest. Daniel sat down, drew his garments together, laid his staff across his knees, and caused his fa

d me that your people worship one only God. In your holy scri

the quic

rds him-"hast thou beheld, clos

ea

u spoken

rha

one that knows nothing, what is the idea of thy mind concerning the

is the incarnation of Satan

n her a supern

it was the one that Amraphel had most feared. So, then, Daniel himself did not know the secret of Istar's existence. It was well enough to call her an incarnation of evil. Tha

stion me about the woman of Bab

iven from Babylon! Driven hence, because-because she menaces the state. Because she takes o

sharp breath

time when Bel and Marduk commanded the surrender of the city to the Elamite, if Istar held not to us, if she raised her voice in behalf of the old dynasty, in behalf of the tyrant, then indeed our

loves the tyra

ment, half rose from his place. Here were

phel had the tact to waive the point. He felt it to be too broad for discussion; for, in spite of himself, Istar roused in him unmistakable feelings of awe. But now there was at least a strong bond of sympathy bet

not remain in Erech, the seat of her ancient w

or Belshazzar, the king

elf, not quite daring to speak the words. But aloud he said, softly, with stress on every syllable: "Yet,

re is none that may say it! Yet-yet-I

d. "I said noth

Jew, how shall Istar not ret

anion. Finally the high-priest, driven to bay, took the risk, and, bending over the Jew, said, softly: "There is no deed that could be called by

perceived that Istar of Babylon is of the flesh. Therefore, priest, she must be mortal, and subject, as all

it! It shall b

precincts of the temple, but not then penetrate to the sacred shrine. On the morning of the third day from Babylon all the people shall be assembled in the great hall of the temple that they may behold their goddess ascend into the shrine. Let her enter there alone for purification and for c

taken its true color, would, long years ago, have been dyed crimson with the blood of those slain under cover of its power. To be sure, Daniel did not wear this badge of office, and he proffered worship only to the God of Judea. But his was a captive race; and just

erform this deed

tten in the laws of Moses, 'Thou shalt not kill'? It must

ructed to the deed: Vul-Raman, of the temple of Nebo; Sia

mmand, let there be three concealed within the shrine. So shall they gain courage,

oaching journey. I, on the morrow, bear the word of it to her. It cannot be possible, Beltishazzar, that from any s

g! Is it divinity now that you attribute to the woman? And where is

stily. "I go for the evening meal to the house of Zicar?. There also

cted as representing the great colony of Jews in Babylon, whose co-operation in the coming revolution was a very necessary thing. However little, then, the ex-prophet might be personally liked, his pr

ms of the house of the temple of Marduk were the resort of high-priests and elders from every temple in the city. As institutions of learning, the monasteries were celebrated; and there were schools attached to them for the instruction of the laity in such courses of study as were not taught in the market-place.

rising, and the chief place at the head of the table was vacated for him by Vul-Raman, of the house of Yakin, priest of Nebo and Nergal, next in rank to Amraphel. Vul-Raman

or of roasted meats taken from the day's sacrifices. No table in the city, barring the king's own, was furnished so lavishly or so richly as this; for the rarest offerings made each day to Father Mardu

s he sat drinking cup after cup of the wine of Lebanon, talking with those around him, using eyes and brain keenly as he watched the right moment at which to speak. Vul

he time arrived. Vul-Raman had happily made reference to a somewhat similar affair of many months before, the results of which had been beyond question beneficial-from the priestly point of view. Amraphel took the last words out of the other's mouth, turned them to unique account, and in less than five minutes had laid bare to his companions the skeleton of his design. It was

of the sanctuary and enters alone into the little room. The curtain falls again, concealing her from the watching eyes. Silently and swiftly do the faithful of the great gods steal behind, seizing her about the throat, with firm hands stifling her cries of terror. Before her stands her judge. The instrument of his justice is in his hand. Well he wields it. Three times it strikes swiftly to the heart of the woman. The silent body is left in the shrine. Only the false soul wails its way into the dismal land of N

r the work eagerly accepted their task, and were enviously regarded by their companions; for would not the true Istar, doubtless in the pers

ly necessitated another battle, in which, this time, victory to the other side was an assured thing. There would be little fighting about it. The disposition of forces was the simplest in the world. There remained only two things to do. A vast celebration must be decreed, through Nabu-Nahid, for all Babylonia; and, more delicate task, Istar herself must be persuaded into tak

To them she was above all ordinary things. She was part of many a pageant, a dazzling vision to be looked upon, stared at, frequently prayed to in various affected ways, but in the end treated as something inhuman, some one far from real life, the real world, real feelings of joy and of sorr

ced to her, her veil of light quickened into new life, and the vibrations pulsated rapidly, as if to protect her from close contact with some dangerous force. The high-priest was ushered into the divine presence preceded by four eunuchs and followed by two black pages. Three

ife was lived, where, in the early dawn of Chaldean history, you and your bright Tammuz and the mighty Izdubar dwelt together, your people cry aloud to you again. By the benevolent generosity of Nabu-Nahid, their king, the men of Erech have raised a new and mighty temple in your honor, have called it

peaking moved her to distrust and to unhappiness. When he had finished the trouble lay in her

o go down among them. When wou

t river. It will be two days before Erech can be reached; but entertainment will be provided by the way for you and for the king and the king's son. Musicians, dancers, and singers shall show their skill before you.

ey's end I shall

the morning dawns, and many people fill the temple, then you shall enter among them, and shall pass up the steps of the sacred shrine and shall enter into the high place, where purifying water will be placed in the deep. When this water is blessed at your hands it will be carried down among those in the temple and sprinkled over them, and thereby great miracles will be performed. Then, w

nable to explain. When the high-priest ceased to speak she let the silence remain unbroken for some min

days I will take up my abode in the city of Erech. But longer than that I will not tarry. Babylon is the seat of my dwelling; and in Babylon I will fulfil my time. Moreover, let not the festival be ordered till two more Sab

ould read the thoughts in his heart. Yet as his hands touched the hem of her garment she did not shrink from him; and, as he turned to leave her, she looked upon him with kindly eyes. He left her presence with perplexity and doubt in his mind; though how it had entered in he could not have told.

eole grew dim, till the embroidery of her purple robe could be distinguished, and her hair glistened only under the beams of the sun. And Istar's thoughts, like her steps, were slow. She

g's son! Twelve days-and then