alert to hear. His ideal, which had taken form at
the altar of peace and grown with his love, was being set up before him.

"But the nations are stubborn," said he. "Tell me, O wise and learned
man, how shall he subdue them?"

"By the love of God, almighty and ever-lasting."

"God, almighty and everlasting," said Vergilius. "I know him not."

"I do but defile myself to speak with you, worshipper of idols,"
sternly spake the priest. "And yet I am constrained to instruct you.
Listen--there is a power which even Rome has not been able to conquer.
Know you what power it is?"

The young tribune was recounting the peoples of the earth, when
Zacharias continued:

"'Tis the God of the Jews. Rome has conquered his people, but mark how
he stands. And what is there of wrong that his law cannot remedy?
Tell me, is there no injustice in your land?"

"There is much," said the young Roman.

"And so I know--but name it."

"Well, for one thing, men torture and kill their slaves."

"And in the law of the one God 'tis written, 'Thou shalt not kill.'"

After a thoughtful moment Vergilius added: "And the strong prey upon
the weak, seizing their property and holding it for their own."

"And the one God commands, 'Thou shalt not steal'; and again, 'Thou
shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy
neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox,
nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's.'"

"But you have injustice, also, in Judea."

"Ay, because there be evil men who obey not the law of God. But
presently they shall be put to shame. Here is he that is come to
prepare the way of the Lord."

The child was now asleep, his head on his father's knee.

"John," said the priest, tenderly looking down.

But the little one continued to sleep, and a wonderful peace and beauty
had come upon him.

"And this new king--whence shall he come and how shall we know him?"
the young Roman persisted.

"Conceived of God, he is now in the womb of his mother," said the
priest. "Soon--very soon, he shall enter the gate of the world. The
ground is ready and he shall be like a sower, and his seed shall be
love, and peace shall be his harvest. If ye would know him, behold
this face."

He touched the brow of the child. "Son of darkness," he continued,
"look upon the son of light! The faith of Mizraim or the wisdom of
Hillel could show you no more. Do you see the new light shining within