Lonely invocations to the goddess beneath the light of the moon appealed to her, for from them she seemed to draw strength and comfort, but the outward ceremonies of her faith, or the more secret and darker of them, of which in practice she knew little, were already an abomination in her eyes.

And now what if the Jew prophet spoke truly?
What if this creed of hers were a lie, root and branch, and there did lie in the heavens above a Lord and Father who heard and answered the prayers of men, and who did not seek of them the blood of the children He had given?
A great doubt took hold of Elissa and shook her being, and with the doubt came hope.

How was it--if her faith were true--that when she took the name of the goddess in vain, nothing had befallen her?
She desired to learn more of this matter, but who was to teach her?
The Levite turned from her with loathing as from a thing unclean, and there remained, therefore, but the prince Aziel, who had put her from him with those bitter words of scorn.

Ah! why did they pain her so, piercing her heart as with a spear?
Was it because--because--he had grown dear to her?
Yes, that was the truth.

She had learned it even as he cursed her; all her quick southern blood was alight with a new fire, the like of which she had never known before.