is then expedient that we determine of what manner his death shall
be," continued the father, inclining his body to signify his submission.

"It is not lawful to shed his blood," said the rabbis. "And we cannot
stone him, lest we be brought to judgment of the Christians. Determine
thou the manner of his death."

"My masters, if you will it, let him be brought once more before us. Let
us all hear with our ears his denial, and if he repent at the last,
it is well, let him live. But if he harden his heart against our
entreaties, let him die. Levi hath brought certain pieces of wood hither
to my house, and is even now at work. If the youth is still stubborn in
his unbelief, let him die even as the Unbeliever died--by the righteous
judgment of the Romans."

"Let it be so. Let him be crucified!" said the rabbis with one voice.

Then Lazarus rose and went out, and, in the vision, the rabbis remained
seated, motionless in their places awaiting his return. The noise of
Levi's hammer echoed through the low vaulted chamber, and at each blow
the smoking lamp quivered a little, casting strange shadows upon the
evil faces beneath its light. At last footsteps, slow and uncertain,
were heard without, the low door opened, and Lazarus entered, holding up
the body of his son before him.

"I have brought him before you for the last time," he said. "Question
him and hear his condemnation out of his own mouth. He repents
not, though I have done my utmost to bring him back to the paths of
righteousness. Question him, my masters, and let us see what he will
say."

White and exhausted with long hunger and thirst, his body broken by
torture, scarcely any longer sensible to bodily pain, Simon Abeles would
have fallen to the ground had his father not held him under the arms.
His head hung forward and the pale and noble face was inclined towards
the breast, but the deep, dark eyes were open and gazed calmly upon
those who sat in judgment at the table. A rough piece of linen cloth was
wrapped about the boy's shoulders and body, but his thin arms were bare.

"Hearest thou, Simon, son of Lazarus?" asked the rabbis. "Knowest thou
in whose presence thou standest?"

"I hear you and I know you all." There was no fear in the voice though
it trembled from weakness.

"Renounce then thy errors, and having suffered the chastisement of thy
folly, return to the ways of thy father and of thy father's house and of
all thy people."

"I renounce my sins