They gazed again and again in doubt and bewilderment; and when, at last, they were forced to realize that the temple was actually blazing, and that angelic powers would NOT descend from the skies to help them, there pealed forth into the infinity of night long shrieks, terrible in their pathos and despair; the shrieks of a dying nation; shrieks so piercingly loud that they were echoed and re-echoed from all the hills that surrounded the city. Slowly the leaping flames sank and died out, to be followed here and there by intermittent flashes and flickerings; and then, at last, the darkness of night fell over the smoking, smoldering, blackened ruins. * * * * * Three centuries later the heathen emperor Julian, resolving to show that Christ was a false prophet, called upon the Jews to rebuild their temple. The supernatural circumstances attending the defeat of this project on the part of him, whose last, dying cry was, “Thou hast conquered, O Galilæan!” are attested alike by pagan and by Christian writer. The lesson of history is clear: THE ABOLITION OF THE TEMPLE WAS THE ACT OF GOD! CHAPTER XXV “JUDÆA CAPTA!” Thus was the temple burnt, and when Titus learned--for the matter was secretly reported to him--whose was the hand that had kindled the first flame, he swore by all his gods that Crispus should suffer death; and, in so resolving, he tried to think that he was actuated by a spirit of justice, and not by the wish of removing one who was a hindrance to his union with Berenice. That princess had often spoken of Crispus’ purpose as touching the temple, but at her fears Titus had laughed, never thinking that Crispus would so far transcend all rules of military discipline as to dare to fire a magnificent edifice without due orders from his commander-in-chief. But Crispus _had_ dared so to act, and fiercely did Titus express his wrath to those of his officers with whom he breakfasted next morning. Tiberius Alexander tried to placate his angry chief. “What command did Crispus disobey? He fired the building ere he learned of your decree.” “Is Crispus, forsooth, commander-in-chief? By whose orders did he act?” “By those of the immortal gods, I verily believe,” replied Alexander. “Josephus, whom you regard so highly, will tell you that it is the Divine will that the temple should perish. Crispus could not resist his destiny. It was fated that he should so act.” “Very like. And ’twas fated, too, that I should behead him.” Alexander’s face darkened. “By so treating the bravest soldier in your army you will incense the legions to the verge of mutiny.” “Be that as it may,” retorted Titus, frowning, for he well knew that there was truth in what the other had said. “And you will lose my services, for I shall immediately return to Alexandria.” “And I shall resign my tribuneship,” said Rufus. “And I!”--“And I!” came from many others.