“Tempt not the All-Wise Lord, lest he destroy thee,” said Zoroaster solemnly.  “Harken, ye priests, and obey the word from heaven.  Take the brazier from your altar, and scatter the embers upon the floor, for the fire is defiled.”

Silent and trembling, the priests obeyed, for they were afraid; but the high priest stood looking in amazement upon Zoroaster.

When the brazier was gone, and the coals were scattered out upon the pavement, and the priests had trodden out the fire with their leathern shoes, Zoroaster went to the black marble altar, and faced the east, looking towards the stone mortar at the end.  He laid his long, thin hands upon the flat surface and drew them slowly together; and, in the sight of the priests, a light sprang up softly between his fingers; gradually at first, then higher and higher, till it stood like a blazing spear-head in the midst, emitting a calm, white effulgence that darkened the lamps overhead, and shed an unearthly whiteness on Zoroaster’s white face.

He stepped back from the altar, and a low murmur of astonishment rose from all the crowd of white-robed men.  Darius stood in silent wonder, gazing alternately upon the figure of Zoroaster, and upon the fragments of his good sword that lay scattered upon the pavement.

Zoroaster looked round upon the faces of the priests with blazing eyes: 

“If ye be true priests of Ahura Mazda, raise with me the hymn of praise,” he said.  “Let it be heard in the heavens, and let it echo beyond the spheres!”

Then his voice rose calm and clear above all the others, and lifting up his eyes and hands, he intoned the solemn chant: 

  "He, who by truth ruleth in purity, abideth according to the
   will of the Lord.”

   “The Lord All-Wise is the giver of gifts to men for the works
   which men in the world shall do in the truth of the Lord.”

   “He who protecteth the poor giveth the kingdom to God.”

   “Best of all earthly goods is truth.”

   “Glory, glory on high for ever to him who is best in heaven, and
   truest in truth on earth!"_

Zoroaster’s grand voice rang out, and all the priests sang melodiously together; and upon the place which had been the scene of such frenzy and fury and drunkenness, there descended a peace as holy and calm as the quiet flame that burned without fuel upon the black stone in the midst.  One by one, the priests came and fell at Zoroaster’s feet; the chief priest first of all.

“Thou art the prophet and priest of the Lord,” each said, one after another.  “I acknowledge thee to be the chief priest, and I swear to be a true priest with thee.”

And last of all, the king, who had stood silently by, came and would have kneeled before Zoroaster.  But Zoroaster took his hands, and they embraced.

“Forgive me the wrong I did thee, Zoroaster,” said Darius.  “For thou art a holy man, and I will honour thee as thou wast not honoured before.”