'Fire the temple!' cried the people ferociously.

'Burn it over the robber's head! A furnace--a furnace! to melt down the gold and silver ready to our hands! Fire the temple! Fire the temple!' Those who were most active among the crowd (which was now greatly increased by stragglers from all parts of the city) entered the houses behind them, and returned in a few minutes with every inflammable substance that they could collect in their hands.

A heap of fuel, two or three feet in height, was raised against the gates immediately, and soldiers and people pressed forward with torches to light it.

But the priest who had before spoken waved them back.

'Wait!' he cried; 'the fate of his body is with the people, but the fate of his soul is with the Church!' Then, turning to the temple, he called solemnly and sternly to the madman, 'Thy hour is come! repent, confess, and save thy soul!' 'Slay on! slay on!' answered the raving voice from within.