“The mysteries of worship!” answered Issachar scornfully.  “Ay! the mysteries of the worship of that fair body of hers, that ivory chalice filled with foulness—­whereof, if a man drink, his faith shall be rotted and his soul poisoned.  The mysteries of that worship was it, Prince, that caused you but now to lean towards this woman as though to embrace her, with words of love burning in your heart if not between your lips?  Ah! these witches of Baaltis know their trade well; they are full of evil gifts, and of the wisdom given to them by the fiend they serve.  With touch and sigh and look they can stir the blood of youth, having much practice in the art, till it seethes within the veins and drowns conscience in its flood.

“Nay, Prince, hear the truth,” continued Issachar.  “Till moonrise you had never seen this woman, and now your quick blood is aflame, and you love her.  Deny it if you can—­deny it on your honour and I will believe you, for you are no liar.”

Aziel thought for a moment and answered:—­

“Issachar, you have no right to question me on this matter, yet since you have adjured me by my honour, I will be open with you.  I do not know if I love this woman, who, as you say, is a stranger to me, but it is true that my heart turns towards her like flowers to the sun.  Till to-day I had never seen her, yet when my eyes first fell upon her face yonder in that accursed grove, it seemed to me that I had been born only that I might find her.  It seemed to me even that for ages I had known her, that for ever she was mine and that I was hers.  Read me the riddle, Issachar?  Is this but passion born of youth and the sudden sight of a fair woman?  That cannot be, for I have known others as fair, and have passed through some such fires.  Tell me, Issachar, you who are old and wise and have seen much of the hearts of men, what is this wave that overwhelms me?”

“What is it, Prince?  It is witchery; it is the wile of Beelzebub waiting to snatch your soul, and if you hearken to it you shall pass through the fire—­through the fire to Moloch, if not in the flesh, then in the spirit, which is to all eternity.  Oh! not in vain do I fear for you, my son, and not without reason was I warned in a dream.  Listen:  Last night, as I lay in my tent yonder upon the plain, I dreamed that some danger overshadowed you, and in my sleep I prayed that your destiny might be revealed to me.  As I prayed thus, I heard a voice saying, ’Issachar, you seek to learn the future; know then that he who is dear to you shall be tried in the furnace indeed.  Yes, because of his great love and pity, he shall forswear his faith, and with death and sorrow he shall pay the price of his sin.’

“Then I was troubled and besought Heaven that you, my son, might be saved from this unknown temptation, but the voice answered me:—­

“’Of their own will only can they who were one from the beginning be held apart.  Through good and ill let them work each other’s woe or weal.  The goal is sure, but they must choose the road.’