Now Sakon, taking advantage of the pause, rushed forward, and throwing his arms about Aziel’s knees, implored him in heart-breaking accents to preserve his only child from so horrible a doom.  He said that did he refuse to save her because of his religious scruples, he would be a dog and a coward, and the scorn of all honest men for ever.  It was for love of him that she had broken the priestly law, to violate which was death, and although he had been warned of her danger, yet in his wickedness and folly he had brought her to this pass.  Would he then desert her now?

But Issachar thrust him aside, and broke in with fiery words:—­

“Hearken not to this man, Aziel,” he said, “who strives to work upon your weakness to the ruin of your soul.  What!  To save the life of one woman, whose fair face has brought so much trouble upon us all, would you deny your Lord and become the thrall of Baal and Ashtoreth?  Let her die since die she must, and keep your own heart pure, for be assured, should you do otherwise, Jehovah, whom you renounce, will swiftly be avenged on you and her.  At the beginning I warned you, and you would not listen.  Now, Aziel, I warn you again, and woe! woe! woe! to you should you shut your ears to my message.”  Then lifting his hands towards the skies, he began to pray aloud that Aziel might be constant in his trial.

Meanwhile, Metem, who had drawn near, spoke in a low voice:—­

“Prince,” he said, “I am not chicken-hearted, and there are so many young women in the world that one more or less can scarcely matter; still, although she threatened to murder me three days ago, I cannot bear to see this one come to so dreadful a death.  Prince, do not heed the howlings of that old fanatic, but remember that after all you are the cause of this lady’s plight, and play the part of a man.  Can you for the sake of your own scruples, however worthy, or of your own soul even, however valuable to yourself, doom the fair body of a woman who risked all for you to such an end as that?” And shuddering he nodded towards the gloomy precipice.

“Is there no other way?” Aziel asked him.

“None, I swear it.  They did not wish to kill her, except that wild-cat Mesa who seeks her place, but having put her on her public trial, if you persist—­they must.

“This is one of the few laws which cannot be broken for favour or for gold, since the people, who are already half-mad with fear of Ithobal, believe that to break it would bring the curses of heaven upon their city.  Perhaps we might have found some other plan, but none of us even dreamed that you would refuse so small a thing for the sake of a woman whom you swore you loved.”

“A small thing!” broke in Aziel.

“Yes, Prince, a very small thing.  Remember, this offering of incense is but a form to which you are forced against your will—­you can do penance for it afterwards when I have arranged for both of you to escape the city.  If your God can be angry with you for burning a pinch of dust to save a woman, who at the least has dared much for you, then give me Baal, for he is less cruel.”