All this, however, was but the preparation for the great solemnity prepared for the initiated, who were now waiting with loudly-beating hearts and breathless expectation for the grand result.

And now another orator, the astrologer, the enlightened prophet of God, ascended the pulpit.  With what pious words he warned his hearers to repentance! how eloquently he exhorted them to contemn the hollow and vain world, which God had only made lovely and attractive in order to tempt men to sin and try their powers of resistance!  “Resist! resist!” he howled through his nose, “and persuade men to turn to you, and be saved even as we are saved—­to become angels of God, even as we are God’s holy angels.”  In order, however, to reach their exalted goal, they must make greater efforts, use larger means.  Power and wealth were necessary to make the world happy and convert it to the true faith.  The world must become wholly theirs; they must buy from the devil the gold which he has hid in the bowels of the earth, and with it allure men, and save their souls from perdition.  “We, by the grace of God, have been empowered to subdue the devil, and to force him to give up his secret.  To those who, like ourselves, are enlightened by the holy spirit of knowledge, the mysteries of the lower world must be made clear.  It is also a noble and great work which we have before us; we must make gold, and with it we must purchase and convert the whole race to holiness!”

When this pious rhapsody was concluded, he called the assembly to earnest prayer.  They fell upon their knees, and dared to pray to God that He would give them strength to adjure the devil.

It was not, however, exactly the plan of the astrologer to crown the efforts of the elect with success, and bring the devil virtually before them.  As long as his majesty did not appear, the pious must believe and hope in their priest; must give him their love, their confidence, and their gold; must look upon him as their benefactor, who was to crown their future with glory and riches, and bring the world to their feet.  In short, he knew it was impossible for him to introduce a devil who could disclose the great secret.  The prayers and offerings of the past had failed, and their future sacrifices must also be in vain.

And now, in the midst of solemn hymns, the ram was led to the altar--this rare offering which had cost so much weary wandering and so much precious gold.  With pompous ceremony, and covered with a white veil, the black ram was led to the sacrifice.  The holy priest Pfannenschmidt, clothed in gold-embroidered robes, stood with a silver knife in his hand, and a silver bowl to receive the blood of the victim.  As he raised the knife, the faithful threw themselves upon their knees and prayed aloud, prayed to God to be with them and bless their efforts.

The astrologer, glowing with piety and enthusiasm, was about to sink the knife into the throat of the poor trembling beast, when suddenly something unheard of, incredible, took place.  A figure fearful to look upon sprang fiercely from behind the altar, and seized the arm of the priest.