Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-09
CRATER XIV.
The MnrtyrdOm of Issachnr.


Israel been caught by the bait of the beau
ty of priestess of Baaltis. denying and re-
jecting Him? Was not evil once more tri-
umphant, and must not they, its ministers,
rejoice?
Again the Shadid raised his wand and
they were silent.
You have indeed done well and wisely
he said, addressing Aziel. Now, take TO
wife the divine lady who has chosen YOU
and he pointed to ELISA, who hay fainting
on the ground. land be happy III her love-
sitting IN my seat, which henceforth is
yours. as ruler OF the priests of III and
master of their mysteries, forgetting the
follies of your former taitn and splitting OF
Its affairs. Han 10 you Snadld, iQru OF The
Baaltls and chosen of III. Take him, You
priests, and with him the divine lady,
wiIe. bearing them IN triumph to their hIgn
house"
What of the Levite?" asked a voice.
The Shadid glanced at Issachar. WHO all
this whi.e had stood like one stricken to the
soul, woe stamped upon mis- face and a
stare of horror in his eyes. Jew, he said,
Il mad forgotten you; but you also are on
your trial, who dared against the law to
hold secret meeting with the Lady Baaltis.
For this sin the punishment is death, nor
would any woman name you husband to
save you from it. STILL in this hour of joy
We will be merciful: therefore do as your
master did cast incense on the altar, say
ing the appointed words, and go your way
Before l make my offering on yonder al
tar according to your command. l have
some words to say, o, priest of FL, an
swered Issachar, quietly, but in a voice
that chilled the blood of those who heard
1t. First. address myself to you, Aziei,
and to you. woman" and he pointed to
ELISA, who had risen, and leaned trem-
bling upon her father. My dream is full
filled. AZiel. you have sinned indeed. and
must bear the appointed punishment OF
your sin, yet hear a message OF mercy
spoken through my lips. Because you lave
sinned through love and pity, your o1ense
is not unto death. yet shall you sorrow for
it all your life's days. and in desolation OF
heart and bitterness of soul snail creep
back to the feet of Him you have forsworh.
Woman your spirit is noble and your feet
are set in the way of righteousness, yet
through you has this offense come, ana
therefore your love shall bear no fruit, nor
shall the blasphemy OF your beloved save
your flesh from doom. Upon the eartn
there is no hope for you, daughter OF Sa-
kon Set your eyes beyond it, for there IS
hope Where is she who swore our hves
away?" and he pointed to Mesa. o,.
Woman, you plotted this that you might
succeed TO the throne of Baaltis- Hear
your fate: You shall live to sweep the nuts
and bear the babes of savages You,
priest" and he pointed to the Shadid. Il
read your heart You design to murder
this man whom you greet as your success
or that you may usurp his place. L snow
YOU yours. 1t lies i'll the bellies of the jack
ais of the desert. You priests and priest
esses of FL and Baaltis think of my words,
and raise your loud song of triumph TO
your gods when you yourselves are their
offering, and the red flame of the fire burns
you up. all of you, save your sins, Whlcn
are immortal. You citizens of an accursed
city look on the hilltop yonder and tell
me. what do You see? A sheen OF spears
Is II not? They draw near to your hearts,
citizens of an accursed city, whereof the
ban ha and the
naked towers but the source of wonder to
men unborn. And now. oh. priest, having
said my say, you bid me, / make my
offering upon your altar.
Then while they all stood fearful and
amazed, 1ssachar the Levite sprang for
ward and, seiZing the ancient image OF
Baaltis. he spat upon IL and dashed the
priceless thing down upon the altar, where
II broke into fragments and was burned
with the fire.
My offering is made he said. May He
whom i serve accept it. Now. after offer
ing sacrifice, son AZiel, fare you WELL
For few moments a silence of horror
and disnay fell upon the assembly as they
Sazed ut the shattered and burning frag-
ments Of the consecrated image. Then.
moved by a common impulse, with curses
and yells of fury. the priests and priest
esses sprang from their seats and hurled
themselves upon IsSachar, who stood await
ing them with folded arms. They smote
him with their ivory rods, they rent and
tore him with their hands, worrying him
as dogs worry fox of the hills, till the
HE was beaten out of him and he lay
dead. Thus terribly, but yet by such
death or mdrtyrdOm as he would have
chosen, persisted Issachar the Levite.
Unarmed though he was. Azel had sprung
to his aid. but Metem and Saxon know
Ing that he would but bring about his own
destruction. flung themselves upon him and
held him back. While he was still strug-
Cling with them the end came and Issa-
char grew still forever. Then Aziers
srensth left him. and presently he slipped
10 the ground senseless.
thereafter it seemed to Aziel that he
was plunged in endless and dreadful
dream. and that through Its turmoil and
sI.Iiihg visions he could continually see the
oreadrui death of 1ssachar and hear his
stern accents prophesying woe to him who
renounees the God of his forefathers to
DOW the knee to Baal. At length he awoke
lio 1 liiat horror-haunted sleep to find him.
sell lying In strange chamber II was
night and lamps burned in the chamber
ana by their light he saw a man whose
lace ne knew mixing a draught in a glass
Ia % weak was he that at first he could
NOT remember the mans name, then by
slow degrees ii came to him. ~
Meten.' he said, where am I?''
me fhoenician looked up from his task,
smiled End answered: '
Where you should he prince in Won,
own mousse. the palace of the ShadiI But
you must not speak. for you have been H.
Drink this and sleep"
n
SANITY overcome by slumaer When ne
a"oke the sun was shining brightly
IhrouSh the window place and its rays
lell upon the shrewd, kindly face of Mateio
VINO vas seated on a stool watching him
lis chin resting on his hand
Tell me all that has befalIen. friend ="
said Aziel since and he shilldcred
since you were married after n new
lashion, and that bigoted but most honor
able fool, lssachar, went to his reward
well, L will when you have eaten" an
sWered Metem- re gave him food
FIRST, he said presently, you have lain
here for three days, raving In a fever
rursed by myself and visited by your wife,
the Lady Baaltis. whenever she could es-
cape from her religious duties"
ELISA. Has she been here?''
Calm yourself, prince. Certainly she
has. and what Is more. she will be back
soon Secc ndly, Ithobal has been as good
es his word, end invests the city with a
vast army. cutting off all supplies and pos
kibilitles of escape. 1t is believed that he
VIII try an assault within the next week
Which many think will be successful Third
Iy to avoid that risk ii is rumored that
the priests and priestesses at the instance
of the council, are discussing the wisdom
Of giving over to him the person of the
daughter of Saxon, on the plea that her
election as the Lady Baaitis was brought
about by bribery, and is therefore void as