the thoughts of the populace. No virgin yet hath borne a son, yet methinks, with eyes like thine, thou couldst not tell a lie. Whose Son is He? Proudly, and with head thrown back, the Virgin answered: "He is the Son of God." And, even while she spoke, there gathered round her head a filmy radiance of glory, that even Caiaphas could see.
He staggered back; then, pointing with a finger towards the Virgin, cried: "What is that light?" And Magdalene, conscious that the glory of the Lord was nigh, fell down in solemn worship at the Virgin's knee.
Then, for a moment terrified, Caiaphas cried out, "Woman of Nazareth, who art thou? What art thou? Speak, for on thy word dependeth the salvation of the world. Speak, and tell us plainly who is thy Son? Whence is He? Is He but a poor carpenter, or is He the Son of God?"
"He is Very God and Very Man," replied the Virgin; "but the mystery I cannot tell thee, for I know it not. All the learning of the scribes and Pharisees, all the philosophy of this earth cannot explain why I should have been chosen to be the mother of my Lord, nor how He did enter the womb; but I declare unto thee that this Jesus, whom they call my Son, is the Son of God, descended from heaven and made man; but how I know not. Only I know that the Lord hath so revealed it to me. But this I say truly, that he who believeth on Him shall be saved from eternal damnation."
"It was never so known," said Caiaphas. "Why
