was trouble in the holy seed; and now comes this boy, who has
done a deed which----'

'The ark, the ark! I gaze upon the ark!' 'The slumberer speaks; the
words of sleep are sacred.' 'Salvation only from the house of David.'
'A mighty truth; my life too well has proved it. 'He is more calm. It
is the holy hour. I'll steal into the court, and gaze upon the star that
sways the fortunes of his royal house.'

The moonbeam fell upon the fountain; the pavement of the court was a
flood of light; the rocks rose dark around. Jabaster, seated by the
spring, and holding his talisman in his left hand, shaded his sight with
the other as he gazed upon the luminous heavens.

A shriek! his name was called. Alroy, wild and panting, rushed into the
court with extended arms. The Cabalist started up, seized him, and held
him in his careful grasp, foaming and in convulsions.

'Jabaster, Jabaster!'

'I am here, my child.'

'The Lord hath spoken.'

'The Lord is our refuge. Calm thyself, son of David, and tell me all.'

'I have been sleeping, master; is it not so?'

'Even so, my child. Exhausted by his flight and the exciting narrative
of his exploit, my Prince lay down upon the couch and slumbered; but I
fear that slumber was not repose.'

'Repose and I have naught in common now. Farewell for ever to that fatal
word. I am the Lord's anointed.'

'Drink of the fountain, David: it will restore thee.'

'Restore the covenant, restore the ark, restore the holy city.'

'The Spirit of the Lord hath fallen upon him. Son of David, I adjure
thee tell me all that hath passed. I am a Levite; in my hand I hold the
name ineffable.'

'Take thy trumpet then, summon the people, bid them swiftly raise again
our temple. "The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with marble."
Didst hear that chorus, sir?'

'Unto thy chosen ear alone it sounded.'

'Where am I? This is not our fountain. Yet thou didst say, "the
fountain." Think me not wild. I know thee, I know all. Thou art
not Miriam. Thou art jabaster; I am Alroy. But thou didst say, "the
fountain," and it distracted me, and called back my memory to----

'God of Israel, lo, I kneel before thee! Here, in the solitude of
wildest nature, my only witness here this holy man, I kneel and vow,
Lord! I will do thy bidding. I am young, O God! and weak; but thou,
Lord, art all-powerful! What God is like to thee? Doubt not my courage,
Lord; and fill me with thy spirit! but remember, remember her, O L