Setismiledandanswered：
“Andthehigh-priestsaysthatitwouldbepresumptuousofhimtopushsofartheprerogativeofahighofficewhichheneversought。“
“YourHighness，“brokeinMerapiinherhoneyed，pleadingvoice，“I
prayyoutobegracioustome，andtosuffermetomakethistrial，whichIhavesought，Iknownotwhy。WordssuchasIhavespokencannotberecalled。AlreadytheyareregisteredinthebooksofEternity，andsoonorlate，inthiswayorinthat，mustbefulfilled。
Mylifeisstaked，andIdesiretolearnatonceifitbeforfeit。“
NowevenUsertilookedonherwithadmiration，butansweredonly：
“Ofatruth，Israelite，ItrustthatthiscouragewillnotforsakeyouwhenyouarehandedovertothemerciesofKi，theSacrificerofAmon，andthepriests，inthevaultsofthetempleyouwouldprofane。“
“Ialsotrustthatitwillnot，yourHighness，ifsuchshouldbemyfate。Yourword，PrinceofEgypt。“
Setilookedatherstandingbeforehimsocalmlywithbowedhead，andhandscrosseduponherbreast。ThenhelookedatUserti，whoworeamockingsmileuponherface。ShereadthemeaningofthatsmileasI
did。Itwasthatshedidnotbelievethathewouldallowthisbeautifulwoman，whohadsavedhislife，toriskherlifeforthesakeofanyorallthepowersofheavenorhell。Foralittlewhilehewalkedtoandfroaboutthechamber，thenhestoppedandsaidsuddenlyaddressing，notMerapi，butUserti：
“Haveyourwill，rememberingthatifthisbravewomanfailsanddies，herbloodisonyourhands，andthatifshetriumphsandlives，I
shallholdhertobeoneofthenoblestofhersex，andshallmakestudyofallthismatterofreligion。MoonofIsrael，astitularhigh-
priestofAmon-Ra，Iacceptyourchallengeonbehalfofthegod，thoughwhetherhewilltakenoteofitIdonotknow。Thetrialshallbemadeto-morrownightinthesanctuaryofthetemple，atanhourthatwillbecommunicatedtoyou。Ishallbepresenttomakesurethatyoumeetwithjustice，aswillsomeothers。Registermycommands，ScribeAna，andletthehead-priestofAmon，Roi，andthesacrificertoAmon，KitheMagician，besummoned，thatImayspeakwiththem。
Farewell，Lady。“
Shewent，butatthedoorturnedandsaid：
“Ithankyou，Prince，onmyownbehalf，andonthatofmypeople。
Whateverchances，IbeseechyoudonotforgettheprayerthatIhavemadetoyoutosavethem，beinginnocent，fromthesword。NowIaskthatImaybeleftquitealonetillIamsummonedtothetemple，whomustmakesuchpreparationasIcantomeetmyfate，whateveritmaybe。“
Usertidepartedalsowithoutaword。
“Oh!friend，whathaveIdone？“saidSeti。“Arethereanygods？Tellme，arethereanygods？“
“Perhapsweshalllearnto-morrownight，Prince，“Ianswered。“AtleastMerapithinksthatthereisagod，anddoubtlesshasbeencommandedtoputherfaithtoproof。This，asIbelieve，wastherealmessagethatJabezherunclehasbroughttoher。“
Itwasthehourbeforethedawn，justwhenthenightisdarkest。WestoodinthesanctuaryoftheancienttempleofAmon-Ra，thatwaslitwithmanylamps。Itwasanawfulplace。Oneithersidethegreatcolumnstoweredtothemassiveroof。AttheheadofthesanctuarysatthestatueofAmon-Ra，thricethesizeofaman。Onhisbrow，risingfromthecrown，weretwotallfeathersofstone，andinhishandsheheldtheScourgeofRuleandthesymbolsofPowerandEverlastingness。
Thelamplightflickereduponhissternandterriblefacestaringtowardstheeast。TohisrightwasthestatueofMut，theMotherofallthings。OnherheadwasthedoublecrownofEgyptandtheur？uscrest，andinherhandtheloopedcross，thesignofLifeeternal。TohisleftsatKhonsu，thehawk-headedgodofthemoon。Onhisheadwasthecrescentoftheyoungmooncarryingthediscofthefullmoon；inhisrighthandhealsoheldtheloopedcross，thesignofLifeeternal，andinhislefttheStaffofStrength。Suchwasthismightytriad，butofthesethegreatestwasAmon-Ra，towhomtheshrinewasdedicated。Fearfultheystoodtoweringaboveusagainstthebackgroundofblackness。
GatheredtherewereSetithePrince，clothedinapriest’swhiterobe，andwearingalinenheaddress，butnoornaments，andUsertithePrincess，high-priestessofHathor，LadyoftheWest，GoddessofLoveandNature。SheworeHathor’svultureheaddress，andonitthediscofthemoonfashionedofsilver。AlsowerepresentRoithehead-priest，cladinhissacerdotalrobes，anoldandwizenedmanwithastrong，fierceface，KitheSacrificerandMagician，Bakenkhonsutheancient，myself，andacompanyofthepriestsofAmon-Ra，Mut，andKhonsu。Frombehindthestatuescamethesoundofsolemnsinging，thoughwhosangwecouldnotsee。
Presentlyfromoutofthedarknessthatlaybeyondthelampsappearedawoman，ledbytwopriestessesandwrappedinalongcloak。TheybroughthertoanopenplaceinfrontofthestatueofAmon，tookfromherthecloakanddeparted，glancingbackatherwitheyesofhateandfear。TherebeforeusstoodMerapi，cladinwhite，withasimplewimpleaboutherheadmadefastbeneathherchinwiththatscarab？usclaspwhichSetihadgiventoherinthecityofGoshen，onespotofbrightestblueamidacloudofwhite。Shelookedneithertorightnorleftofher。Onceonlysheglancedatthetoweringstatueofthegodthatfrownedabove，thenwithalittleshiver，fixedhereyesuponthepatternofthefloor。
“Whatdoesshelooklike？“whisperedBakenkhonsutome。
“Acorpsemadereadyfortheembalmers，“Ianswered。
Heshookhisgreathead。
“Thenabridemadereadyforherhusband。“
Againheshookhishead。
“ThenapriestessabouttoreadfromtherollofMysteries。“
“Nowyouhaveit，Ana，andtounderstandwhatshereads，whichfewpriestesseseverdo。Alsoallthreeanswerswereright，forinthiswomanIseemtoseedoomthatisDeath，lifethatisLove，andspiritthatisPower。ShehasasoulwhichbothHeavenandEarthhavekissed。“
“Aye，butwhichofthemwillclaimherintheend？“
“Thatwemaylearnbeforethedawn，Ana。Hush!thefightbegins。“
Thehead-priest，Roi，advancedand，standingbeforethegod，sprinkledhisfeetwithwaterandwithperfume。Thenhestretchedouthishands，whereonallpresentprostratedthemselves，saveMerapionly，whostoodaloneinthatgreatplacelikethesurvivorofabattle。
“Hailtothee，Amon-Ra，“hebegan，“LordofHeaven，Establisherofallthings，Makerofthegods，whounrolledtheskiesandbuiltthefoundationsoftheEarth。Ogodofgods，appearsbeforetheethiswomanMerapi，daughterofNathan，achildoftheHebrewracethatownstheenot。Thiswomanblasphemesthymight；thiswomandefiesthee；
thiswomansetsuphergodabovethee。Isitnotso，woman？“
“Itisso，“answeredMerapiinalowvoice。
“Thusdoesshedefythee，thouOnlyOneofmanyForms，saying’ifthegodAmonoftheEgyptiansbeagreatergodthanmygod，lethimsnatchmeoutofthearmsofmygodandhereinthistheshrineofAmontakethebreathfromoutmylipsandleavemeathingofclay。’Arethesethywords，Owoman？“
“Theyaremywords，“shesaidinthesamelowvoice，andoh!I
shiveredasIheard。
Thepriestwenton。
“OLordofTime，LordofLife，LordofSpiritsandtheDivinitiesofHeaven，LordofTerror，comeforthnowinthymajestyandsmitethisblasphemertothedust。“
RoiwithdrewandSetistoodforward。
“Know，OgodAmon，“hesaid，addressingthestatueasthoughheweespeakingtoalivingman，“fromthelipsofme，thyhigh-priest，bybirththePrinceandHeirofEgypt，thatgreatthingshanguponthismatterhereintheLandofEgypt，mayhapevenwhoshallsituponthethronethatthougivesttoitskings。ThiswomanofIsraeldarestheetothyface，sayingthatthereisagreatergodthanthouartandthatthoucanstnotharmherthroughthebucklerofhisstrength。Shesays，moreover，thatshewillcalluponhergodtoworkasignandawonderuponthee。Lastly，shesaysthatifthoudostnotharmherandifhergodworksnosignuponthee，thensheisreadytobehandedovertothypriestsanddiethedeathofablasphemer。Thyhonourissetagainstherlife，OgreatGodofEgypt，andwe，thyworshippers，watchtoseethebalanceturn。“
“Wellandjustlyput，“mutteredBakenkhonsutome。“NowifAmonfailsus，whatwillyouthinkofAmon，Ana？“
“Ishalllearnthehigh-priest’smindandthinkwhatthehigh-priestthinks，“Ianswereddarkly，thoughinmyheartIwasterriblyafraidforMerapi，and，tospeaktruth，formyselfalso，becauseofthedoubtswhicharoseinmeandwouldnotbequenched。
Setiwithdrew，takinghisstandbyUserti，andKistoodforwardandsaid：