burst of melodious thanksgiving peals forth. A thousand harps mingle their harmonies with the songs of praise. Louder and louder swells the psalm, till it becomes as the sound of many waters; and as He raises His hands to bless the people, Azriel sees the deep wounds that scar them, while the words come to himwhere had he read them?"They pierced My hands and My feet!" and a great voice cries, "In this mountain will Jehovah Sabaoth make unto all people a feast of fat things; and He will destroy the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory, and the Lord Jehovah will wipe away the tears from off all faces!" In the mighty shout that followed Azriel awoke, and behold it was a dream!

Very sorrowful was that awaking. For the moment, indeed, hardly knowing where he was, he yielded himself to the happy thoughts and pleasurable emotions excited by his dream; but as he tried to move his limbs, and felt the harsh restraint that shackled them, a full sense of his perilous position came over him. His swollen feet and arms throbbed with pain. The cords that had cut deeply into his flesh made the slightest motion torture. His whole frame was aching with cold; and his bandaged eyes could catch no ray of the blessed light that streamed above him. At first in that utter loneliness and desolation his heart died within him, nor are we ashamed to confess that a few tears streamed down his face, but his pious trust and natural courage soon restored his firmness. He felt he was not alone. He poured out his soul in praise

for his sweet sleep and bright dream; and resigning himself to the holy will of the All-wise and All-merciful, patiently waited for whatever might befall him.

CHAPTER VII.

THE MAGICIAN.

THE night which Azriel passed so peacefully in heavenly dreams was spent by Shobab far less happily. There was a calm in the prisoner's dungeon that he could not feel as he paced his gorgeous chamber to and fro, revolving the events of the day. He could not conceal from himself that his position was very critical. The simplest plan would be to take Azriel's life at once, but then how to elude the rigid inquiries. that would at once be made about him? How to secure the silence of the slaves who had seen him dragged to prison, and who might obtain great rewards by confessing all they knew? Should he release him and let him go on his promise of secresy? It was doubtful whether that promise could be extorted, and if it were, could he endure to hold his life at the mercy of an enemy? Then, too, there was his oath, his credit with his fellow-conspirators to be satisfied. In this perplexity it was natural that he should seek aid in the unholy arts of the heathens, which, though sternly forbidden by the Law, were practised in secret by many

enchanters and soothsayers, both men and women, throughout Judah.

Now there dwelt in Hebron a famous wizard, whom Shobab had often consulted before, and who was resorted to from all parts by the idolatrous and unbelieving. This man was by birth an Egyptian, but professed to be a convert to Judaism, sedulously observing in public all the precepts of Moses, and bare the name of Zelthai, which he had adopted in place of Sabocos, his designation in his own country. He lived in a house of mean exterior, that seemed to belie the reports that were circulated of the riches he had acquired by necromancy; and by his unassuming behaviour towards his fellow-citizens, sought to dispel any feeling of envy or hatred that might have been entertained towards him. To this man Shobab determined to resort, and, as the matter was urgent, that very night.

Accordingly, about the hour that Azriel fell asleep he left the palace by a secret door, and proceeded towards the town, attended by a single Assyrian slave. The night was dark and the wind blew coldly as he descended the hill, but wrapping his mantle about him so as completely to conceal his dress, he went directly to the principal entrance of the city. This entrance, something like our old Gothic gateways, consisted of two towers, connected above by a chamber or gallery, beneath which was a strong iron gate. It was now barred and bolted, and guarded by two armed men, but a few words from the slave, and a shekel of gold, prevented all troublesome questions, and they passed into the quiet street.

For a little time the echo of their own footsteps was the only sound that disturbed the intense silence, but as they penetrated into the heart of the town they met a few indications of life. Here and there a band of revellers, singing noisy songs, hurried along the pathway; females, whose unveiled faces and gaudy apparel told their life of shame too plainly, lounged at the corners of narrow alleys, while from one or two houses loud screams and the voice of wailing told that death was at work amid the darkness. Walking stealthily along, so as to shun observation, they soon came to Zelthai's house, and having asked for the magician, were admitted to a small and scantily-furnished room, where Zelthai soon made his appearance. He was a tall and powerful man, and a depth of mystery was expressed by his not unpleasing face. He wore the ordinary garb of the day, and recognizing Shobab, approached him with much reverence, and said, "My lord, thy servant awaits thy pleasure.”

"I am in a great strait," answered Shobab, a stumbling-block lies in my path, and I know not how to remove it. I have entered on a vast undertaking, and am doubtful of its success."

“And hast thou nought else to tell me?"

"Nothing. I only want an answer to two questions. Will that stumbling-block be removed? Will that design succeed?"

"And how wouldst thou that I divine? Shall I gaze on the bright orbs of heaven and spell out the future from the skies? Shall I watch the birds of the air and learn from their flight? Or shall I put forth