Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/15

Rh or the sudden blaze from a log that falls from its place, there sprang up for him a strange new meaning in life. So much did the reflection move him, that he paused by the low wall, and looked back towards Jerusalem, a dark mass, now lying like a gaunt shadow with weird shape across the valley, a faint radiance showing only where the roof of the Temple lay. Absolute Justice! Absolute Truth! Right, real Right, independent of creature. Could they be found?

Yes, it was possible; he felt it, and as he turned his face upwards toward the sky, and as the cool night air fanned with soothing gentleness his lips, a voice seemed to whisper to his soul: "Seek! Seek!"

Presently, at the turning of the road, from the gloom emerged another figure, and a voice cried out:

"Hail, friend Lazarus. I come to sup with thee."

The voice was young and fresh, and vigorous as Lazarus's own, but with a serious vibration in it that spoke of constant introspection.

"No friend I would more gladly see this night," said Lazarus, with truth in every accent; for Nicodemus had been from childhood ever his greatest and most valued friend, and, like himself, was a young and promising ruler of the Synagogue.

"Whence comest thou, Nicodemus ? Thou wast not at the Sanhedrim at all to-day."

"Nay, but if I tell thee, thou wilt laugh," said Nicodemus.

"Methinks 't would do me good to laugh, for my thoughts were sad while thou didst come this way.

Then, lowering his voice and coming close to