THE LAMP IN THE DESERT by ETHEL M. DELL Author of _The Way of an Eagle_, _The Knave of Diamonds_, _The Rocks of Valpré_, _The Swindler, and Other Stories_, _The Keeper of the Door_, _The Bars of Iron_, _The Hundredth Chance_, _The Safety Curtain, and Other Stories_, _Greatheart_ 1919 [Illustration: "He knelt beside her, his arms comfortingly around her."] Drawn by D.C. Hutchinson I DEDICATE THIS BOOK TO MY DEARLY-LOVED ELIZABETH AND TO THE MEMORY OF HER GREAT GOODNESS WHEN SHE WALKED IN THE DESERT WITH ME _"He led them all the night through with a light of fire."_ PSALM lxxviii, 14. Lamps that gleam in the city, Lamps that flare on the wall, Lamps that shine on the ways of men, Kindled by men are all. But the desert of burnt-out ashes, Which only the lost have trod, Dark and barren and flowerless, Is lit by the Hand of God. To lighten the outer darkness, To hasten the halting feet, He lifts a lamp in the desert Like the lamps of men in the street. Only the wanderers know it, The lost with those who mourn, That lamp in the desert darkness, And the joy that comes in the dawn. That the lost may come into safety, And the mourners may cease to doubt, The Lamp of God will be shining still When the lamps of men go out. CHAPTER PART I I.--BEGGAR'S CHOICE II.--THE PRISONER AT THE BAR III.--THE TRIUMPH IV.--THE BRIDE V.--THE DREAM VI.--THE GARDEN VII.--THE SERPENT IN THE GARDEN VIII.--THE FORBIDDEN PARADISE PART II I.--THE MINISTERING ANGEL II.--THE RETURN III.--THE BARREN SOIL IV.--THE SUMMONS V.--THE MORNING VI.--THE NIGHT-WATCH VII.--SERVICE RENDERED VIII.--THE TRUCE IX.--THE OASIS X.--THE SURRENDER PART III I.--BLUEBEARD'S CHAMBER II.--EVIL TIDINGS III.--THE BEAST OF PREY IV.--THE FLAMING SWORD V.--TESSA VI.--THE ARRIVAL VII.--FALSE PRETENCES VIII.--THE WRATH OF THE GODS PART IV I.--DEVIL'S DICE II.--OUT OF THE DARKNESS III.--BLUEBELL IV.--THE SERPENT IN THE DESERT V.--THE WOMAN'S WAY VI.--THE SURPRISE PARTY VII.--RUSTAM KARIN VIII.--PETER IX.--THE CONSUMING FIRE X.--THE DESERT PLACE PART V I.--GREATER THAN DEATH II.--THE LAMP III.--TESSA'S MOTHER IV.--THE BROAD ROAD V.--THE DARK NIGHT VI.--THE FIRST GLIMMER VII.--THE FIRST VICTIM VIII.--THE FIERY VORTEX IX.--THE DESERT OF ASHES X.--THE ANGEL XI.--THE DAWN XII.--THE BLUE JAY PART I CHAPTER I BEGGAR'S CHOICE