Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/142



UDDENLY, like a mist or cloud formed from the sun's effulgence into a mass of golden atoms held together by their own glory, a figure clad in white, that seemed to irradiate its own shimmering purity with dazzling lustre, and to set at naught the brilliancy of the sun itself—the figure of the Nazarene—stood in the midst of them. The crowd fell back in awe, and all looked upwards, as though they thought He had descended from the heavens; for none had noticed His approach, or could tell whence He had come. Caiaphas started backward with a curse. "How long shall this man trouble us?" he muttered. Then, turning to a messenger—for one stood always at the entrance to his chamber—he commanded: "Go, tell the soldiers that stand below to hold themselves in readiness to lay hands upon this Jesus, and to bring Him hither when I give the word. Dost hear, fool?" he exclaimed sharply, when the man seemed to hesitate.

" 'T will be no easy task," replied the soldier; "for though the people revile those who say He is the Christ, yet, when they see Him they fall down and worship Him, and easily would tear to pieces those who seek to slay Him or lay hands on Him."

With cynicism and contempt, the High Priest replied: "It will perhaps make thy task the easier,