whereon man bestoweth the name of seraphim. With flaming sword they are to keep sacred the field of Paradise and the tree of life. And fast in their grasp the drawn sword, sharp of edge, quivers, trembles, and changes its hue. For thou dost rule, 760 O Lord God, eternally, and thou didst hurl thy sin-stained foes, the workers of iniquity, from the heavens, and the unhappy host fell to the dark abodes, into the pains of hell. There now they suffer 765 the agony of death in a sea of fire, encompassed about with darkness, in the embrace of the dragon. He withstood thy kingly rule, and therefore in misery, abhorred, the vilest of the vile, shall he suffer and endure the servile yoke. He cannot there 770 neglect thy commandment; he is fettered in torture, bound in agony, the author of all sin. If it be thy will, O King of angels, that He who was on the cross, and was born of Mary into the world in the 775 form of a child, the Lord of the heavenly host, shall rule—and were He not thy Son, free from guile, never could He have wrought such a multitude of true miracles day after day in the world; 780 nor wouldst thou, O Lord of the peoples, so gloriously have raised Him from the dead before the nations, were He not thy Son in glory by that holy maid—then do thou, O Father of angels, now show forth thy sign. Even as thou didst hearken unto 785 the words of that holy seer, Moses, in prayer, when thou, O God of power, didst reveal unto the noble man in due time the bones of Joseph beneath the mountain-side, so would I, O God of hosts, if it be thy will, beseech thee in the name of that fair being 790 that thou, Creator of souls, wilt disclose unto me this treasure-house that long has been hidden from men. Do thou now, O Prince of life, let rise up beneath the span of the heavens from this smiling 795 field a misty smoke. Then shall I trust in thee better, and the more firmly establish my soul in undoubting joy upon the crucified Christ, that He is truly the Saviour of souls, eternal, omnipotent, and King of the Israelites, and that He shall rule 800 for ever in glory without end the everlasting dwellings in the heavens.'

Then from that place a mist rose up beneath the skies, like unto smoke. Thereupon was the soul of the man exalted, and he clapped his hands unto 805 the heavens, wise and blessed. And Judas spake, sage in thought:—'Now have I truly perceived in the hardness of my heart that thou art the Saviour of the world. Thanksgiving without end be thine, 810 O God of might, who sittest in majesty, that unto me in my misery and my sin thou dost uncover the secrets of the fates by thy glory. Now I would pray thee, O Son of God, Giver of gifts to men, inasmuch as I know thou art revealed and born the 815 Glory of all kings, that thou never more be mindful of my guilt, O my Creator, which I have wrought not a few times against thee. Let me, O God of power, dwell with holy joy among the number of 820 the kingdom in that fair city where my brother is exalted in glory, for he, Stephen, held covenant with thee, even though he was stoned. He hath the reward of the fight, joy unceasing, and the wonders 825 that he wrought are set forth in books.'

Then, glad and zealous, he digged in the earth under the sod for the tree of glory until he uncovered and came upon three crosses together in a mournful home, hid twenty feet below, concealed 830 in their dark grave beneath the steep cliff, and covered over with sand, even as in days of yore the 835 host of the sinful, the race of the Jews, had clothed them over with earth. They stirred up hatred against the Son of God, as they would not have done had they not hearkened to the teachings of the prince of evil.

And his soul was gladdened with great joy, and 840 his heart strengthened by that holy tree, and his spirit exalted within him as he beheld the holy sign in the earth. With his hands he seized upon the wondrous tree of glory, and in the midst of the people raised it aloft from its earthy grave. Then 845 strangers and heroes entered into the town.

12. THE MIRACLE OF THE TRUE CROSS.

Thereupon the glad and zealous man set forth the three trees of victory before Elene in open view. 850 The queen rejoiced in her heart at the deed, and asked on which of those trees the Son of the King, Giver of joy to men, was crucified: 'Lo! we heard it declared from the holy book that two suffered with Him, and He Himself was the third on the 855 cross. All the heavens grew dark in that woful hour. Say, if thou knowest, on which of these trees the Lord of angels and Prince of glory suffered.'

But Judas could not declare unto her fully concerning 860 that tree of victory, on which the Saviour, the conquering Son of God, was hung, for he wist it not assuredly. Then he bade set the crosses with tumult in the midst of the fair city, there to abide 865 until the King Almighty should show forth a miracle before the people through that tree of glory. With souls uplifted in their victory, they sat themselves down about the rood, and with earnest thought raised their voices in song until the ninth hour, when they had new joy, gloriously gained. 870 For many came there, no small multitude, and among the press of men close by on a bier they brought one who was dead, a young man, lifeless; and it was the ninth hour.

And there was the heart of Judas gladdened with 875 great joy. He bade them set down upon the earth him whose soul had fled, the body forsaken of life, the dead man, and he himself, wise and earnest revealer of truth, raised up in his arms two of those 880 crosses over the lifeless frame. But the body, fast on its couch, was dead as before. The limbs were cold, enwrapped with their dire fate. Then the third, the holy one, was raised aloft. The body 855 waited until the rood, the cross of the King of heaven, the true sign of victory, was laid upon the man; then he straightway rose up, restored in spirit, both body and soul together. And there was great 890 laud raised among the people; they revered the Father, and honored the true Son of the King in their speech. To Him be glory and thanksgiving without end from all creatures.

13. JUDAS AND THE DEVIL.

Then, as ever should be, was the miracle which 895 the Lord of hosts, Giver of life, had wrought for the salvation of mankind, impressed upon the minds of the people. But there the fiend, the devil from hell, dire monster mindful of evil, sinning with his 900 lies, rose up into the air, flying, and spake thus:—'Lo! what man is this who doth again in the ancient enmity destroy my following, swell the olden hatred, and waste my possessions? Continual 905 strife is this. No longer may the souls of them that work evil dwell among my possessions, since now a stranger hath come, whom I counted fast in his sins, and hath robbed me of my every right 910 and of all my wealth. This is not a just deed. The Saviour, who was raised up in Nazareth, hath done me many an evil, acts of deep hatred. As he grew up from childhood, he ever turned to himself 915 my possessions, nor now can any justice succeed [against him]. His kingdom is broad over the world, while my teaching is weakened beneath the heavens. I dare not despise this cross with scoffing laugh. Lo! the Saviour hath again shut me into 920 my narrow home, smitten with woe. Once I was filled with joy by a Judas: but now, again by a Judas, am I humbled, bereft of possessions, abhorred, and friendless. But I know how to discover