“OAmon，IthySacrificer，IthyMagician，towhomthougivestpower，IthepriestandservantofIsis，MotherofMysteries，Queenofthecompanyofthegods，calluponthee。ShewhostandsbeforetheeisbutaHebrewwoman。Yet，asthouknowestwell，OFather，inthishousesheismorethanwoman，inasmuchassheistheVoiceandSwordofthineenemy，Jahveh，godoftheIsraelites。Shethinks，mayhap，thatshehascomehereofherownwill，butthouknowest，FatherAmon，asIknow，thatsheissentbythegreatprophetsofherpeople，thosemagicianswhoguidehersoulwithspellstoworktheeevilandtosetthee，Amon，beneaththeheelofJahveh。Thestakeseemssmall，thelifeofthisonemaid，nomore；yetitisverygreat。Thisisthestake，O
Father：ShallAmonruletheworld，orJahveh。Ifthoufallestto-night，thoufallestforever；ifthoudosttriumphto-night，thoudosttriumphforever。Inyondershapeofstonehidesthyspirit；inyondershapeofwoman’sfleshhidesthespiritofthyfoe。Smiteher，OAmon，smitehertosmalldust；letnotthestrengththatisinherprevailagainstthystrength，lestthynameshouldbedefiledandsorrowsandlossshouldcomeuponthelandwhichisthythrone；lest，too，thewizardsoftheIsraelitesshouldovercomeusthyservants。
ThusprayethKithymagician，onwhosesoulithaspleasedtheetopourstrengthandwisdom。“
Thenfollowedagreatsilence。
Watchingthestatueofthegod，presentlyIthoughtthatitmoved，andasIcouldseebythestiramongthem，sodidtheothers。Ithoughtthatitsstoneeyesrolled，IthoughtthatitliftedtheScourgeofPowerinitsgranitehand，thoughwhetherthesethingsweredonebysomespiritorbysomepriest，orbythemagicofKi，Idonotknow。
Attheleast，agreatwindbegantoblowaboutthetemple，stirringourrobesandcausingthelampstoflicker。OnlytherobesofMerapididnotstir。YetshesawwhatIcouldnotsee，forsuddenlyhereyesgrewfrightened。
“Thegodisawake，“whisperedBakenkhonsu。“Nowgood-byetoyourfairIsraelite。See，thePrincetrembles，Kismiles，andthefaceofUsertiglowswithtriumph。“
Ashespokethebluescarab？uswassnatchedfromMerapi’sbreastasthoughbyahand。Itfelltothefloorasdidherwimple，sothatnowsheappearedwithherrichhairflowingdownherrobe。Thentheeyesofthestatueseemedtoceasetoroll，thewindceasedtoblow，andagaintherewassilence。
Merapistooped，liftedthewimple，replaceditonherhead，foundthescarab？usclasp，andveryquietly，asawomanwhowastiringherselfmightdo，madeitfastinitsplaceagain，asightatwhichIheardUsertigasp。
Foralongwhilewewaited。Watchingthefacesofthecongregation，I
sawamazementanddoubtonthoseofthepriests，rageonthatofKi，andonSeti’stheflickerofalittlesmile。Merapi’seyeswereclosedasthoughshewereasleep。Atlengthsheopenedthem，andturningherheadtowardsthePrincesaid：
“Ohigh-priestofAmon-Ra，hasyourgodworkedhiswillonme，ormustIwaitlongerbeforeIcalluponmyGod？“
“Dowhatyouwillorcan，woman，andmakeanend，foralmostitisthemomentofdawnwhenthetempleworshipopens。“
ThenMerapiclaspedherhands，andlookingupwards，prayedaloudverysweetlyandsimply，saying：
“OGodofmyfathers，trustinginThee，I，apoormaidofThypeopleIsrael，havesetthelifeThougavestmeinThyHand。If，asI
believe，ThouarttheGodofgods，IprayTheeshowasignandawonderuponthisgodoftheEgyptians，andtherebydeclareThineHonourandkeepmybreathwithinmybreast。IfitpleasesTheenot，thenletmedie，asdoubtlessformymanysinsIdeservetodo。OGodofmyfathers，Ihavemademyprayer。HearitorrejectitaccordingtoThyWill。“
Sosheended，andlisteningtoher，Ifeltthetearsrisinginmyeyes，becauseshewassomuchalone，andIfearedthatthisgodofherswouldnevercometosaveherfromthetormentsofthepriests。
Setialsoturnedhisheadaway，andstareddownthesanctuaryattheskyovertheopencourtwherethelightsofdawnweregathering。
Oncemoretherewassilence。Thenagainthatwindblew，verystrongly，extinguishingthelamps，and，asitseemedtome，whirlingawayMerapifromwhereshewas，sothatnowshestoodtoonesideofthestatue。
Thesanctuarywasfilledwithgloom，tillpresentlythefirstraysoftherisingsunstruckupontheroof。Theyfelldown，down，asminutefollowedminute，tillatlengththeyrestedlikeaswordofflameuponthestatueofAmon-Ra。Oncemorethatstatueseemedtomove。Ithoughtthatitlifteditsstonearmstoprotectitshead。Theninamomentwitharendingnoise，itsmightymassburstasunder，andfellinsmalldustaboutthethrone，almosthidingitfromsight。
“BeholdmyGodhasansweredme，themosthumbleofHisservants，“saidMerapiinthesamesweetandgentlevoice。“Beholdthesignandthewonder!“
“Witch!“screamedthehead-priestRoi，andfledaway，followedbyhisfellows。
“Sorceress!“hissedUserti，andfledalso，asdidalltheothers，savethePrince，Bakenkhonsu，IAna，andKitheMagician。
Westoodamazed，andwhilewedidso，KiturnedtoMerapiandspoke。
Hisfacewasterriblewithfearandfury，andhiseyesshonelikelamps。Althoughhedidbutwhisper，Iwhowasnearesttothemheardallthatwassaid，whichtheotherscouldnotdo。
“Yourmagicisgood，Israelite，“hemuttered，“sogoodthatithasovercomeminehereinthetemplewhereIserve。“
“Ihavenomagic，“sheansweredverylow。“Iobeyedacommand，nomore。“
Helaughedbitterly，andasked：
“Shouldtwoofatradewastetimeonfoolishness？Listennow。Teachmeyoursecrets，andIwillteachyoumine，andtogetherwewilldriveEgyptlikeachariot。“
“Ihavenosecrets，Ihaveonlyfaith，“saidMerapiagain。
“Woman，“hewenton，“womanordevil，willyoutakemeforfriendorfoe？HereIhavebeenshamed，sinceitwastomeandnottotheirgodsthattheprieststrustedtodestroyyou。YetIcanstillforgive。
Choosenow，knowingthatasmyfriendshipwillleadyoutorule，tolifeandsplendour，somyhatewilldriveyoutoshameanddeath。“
“Youarebesideyourself，andknownotwhatyousay。ItellyouthatI
havenomagictogiveortowithhold，“sheanswered，asonewhodidnotunderstandorwasindifferent，andturnedawayfromhim。
ThereonhemutteredsomecursewhichIcouldnotcatch，bowedtotheheapofdustthathadbeenthestatueofthegod，andvanishedawayamongthepillarsofthesanctuary。
“Oho-ho!“laughedBakenkhonsu。“NotinvainhaveIlivedtobesoveryold，fornowitseemswehaveanewgodinEgypt，andtherestandshisprophetess。“
Merapicametotheprince。
“Ohigh-priestofAmon，“shesaid，“doesitpleaseyoutoletmego，forIamveryweary？“
Itwastheappointeddayandhour。BycommandofthePrinceIdrovewithhimtothepalaceofPharaoh，whitherherHighnessthePrincessrefusedtobehiscompanion，andforthefirsttimewetalkedtogetherofthatwhichhadpassedinthetemple。
“HaveyouseentheladyMerapi？“heaskedofme。
IansweredNo，asIwastoldthatshewassickwithinherhouseandlayabedsufferingfromweariness，orIknewnotwhat。
“Shedoeswelltokeepthere，“saidSeti，“Ithinkthatifshecameoutthosepriestswouldmurderheriftheycould。Alsothereareothers，“andheglancedbackatthechariotthatboreUsertiinstate。
“Say，Ana，canyouinterpretallthismatter？“
“NotI，Prince。IthoughtthatperhapsyourHighness，thehigh-priestofAnon，couldgivemelight。“
“Thehigh-priestofAmonwandersinthickdarkness。KiandtherestswearthatthisIsraeliteisasorceresswhohasoutmatchedtheirmagic，buttomeitseemsmoresimpletobelievethatwhatshesaysistrue；thathergodisgreaterthanAmon。“
“Andifthisbetrue，Prince，whatarewetodowhoaresworntothegodsofEgypt？“
“Bowourheadsandfallwiththem，Isuppose，Ana，sincehonourwillnotsufferustodesertthem。“
“Eveniftheybefalse，Prince？“
“Idonotthinkthattheyarefalse，Ana，thoughmayhaptheybelesstrue。AtleasttheyarethegodsoftheEgyptiansandweareEgyptians。“Hepausedandglancedatthecrowdedstreets，thenadded，“See，whenIpassedthiswaythreedaysagoIwasreceivedwithshoutsofwelcomebythepeople。Nowtheyaresilent，everyone。“
“Perhapstheyhaveheardofwhatpassedinthetemple。“
“Doubtless，butitisnotthatwhichtroublesthemwhothinkthatthegodscanguardthemselves。TheyhaveheardalsothatIwouldbefriendtheHebrewswhomtheyhate，andthereforetheybegintohateme。WhyshouldIcomplainwhenPharaohshowsthemtheway？“
“Prince，“Iwhispered，“whatwillyousaytoPharaoh？“
“ThatdependsonwhatPharaohsaystome。Ana，ifIwillnotdesertourgodsbecausetheyseemtobetheweaker，thoughitshouldprovetomyadvantage，doyouthinkthatIwoulddeserttheseHebrewsbecausetheyseemtobeweaker，eventogainathrone？“
“Theregreatnessspeaks，“Imurmured，andaswedescendedfromthechariothethankedmewithalook。
WepassedthroughthegreathalltothatsamechamberwherePharaohhadgivenmethechainofgold。Alreadyhewasthereseatedattheheadofthechamberandwearingonhisheadthedoublecrown。Abouthimweregatheredallthoseofroyalbloodandthegreatofficersofstate。Wemadeourobeisances，butoftheseheseemedtotakenonote。