_The Christines attend a feast in Simon’s house. Mary anoints the master with a costly balm, and Judas and others rebuked her for profligacy. Jesus defends her. The rulers of the Jews employ Ananias to arrest Jesus. Ananias bribes Judas to aid him._ Bar-Simon, who was once a leper and was cleansed by Jesus by the sacred Word, abode in Bethany. 2 In honor of the Christine Lord he gave a feast, and Lazarus was among the guests, and Ruth and Martha served. 3 And as the guests reclined about the table, Mary took a cruse of rich perfume and poured it out on Jesus’ head and feet. 4 And then she knelt and with her hair she wiped his feet; the odor of the rich perfume filled all the room. 5 Now, Judas, always looking at the selfish side of life, exclaimed, For shame! why did you waste that costly perfume thus? 6 We might have sold it for three hundred pence, and had the money to supply our wants and feed the poor. 7 (Now, Judas was the treasurer, and carried all the money of the Christine band.) 8 And others said, Why, Mary, what a profligate you are! you should not throw such wealth away. 9 But Jesus said, You men, be still; let her alone; you know not what you say. 10 The poor are with you constantly; at any time you can administer to them; but I will not be with you long. 11 And Mary knows the sadness of the coming days; she has anointed me beforehand for my burial. 12 The gospel of the Christ will everywhere be preached, and he who tells the story of the Christ will tell about this day; and what was done by Mary at this hour will be a sweet memorial to her wherever men abide. 13 And when the feast was over Jesus went with Lazarus to his home. 14 Now, in Jerusalem the priests and Pharisees were busy with their plans to seize the Lord and take his life. 15 The high priest called in counsel all the wisest men and said, This deed must be accomplished in a secret way. 16 He must be taken when the multitudes are not a-near, else we may cause a war; the common people may stand forth in his defense and thus pollute this sacred place with human blood. 17 And what we do, that we must do before the great day of the feast. 18 And Ananias said, I have a plan that will succeed. The twelve with Jesus every day go forth alone to pray; 19 And we will find their trysting place; then we can seize the man and bring him here without the knowledge of the multitudes. 20 I know one of the twelve, a man who worships wealth, and for a sum I think that he will lead the way to where the man is wont to pray. 21 And then Caiaphas said, If you will lead the way and bribe the man of whom you speak, to aid in seizing Jesus in a secret place, then we will give to you a hundred silver pieces for your hire. 22 And Ananias said, ’Tis well. 23 And then he went to Bethany and found the twelve at Simon’s house, and calling Judas to the side he said,