The scene of Act III is laid at night, in the dwelling of Phanuel. The philosopher, bowed down by his sense of the peril of the wicked city, consults the stars. Hither Herodias comes secretly to ask him the course of the star of the woman who has robbed her of the love of the king. Reluctantly he tells her that their stars are strangely asso ciated and that hers is covered with blood. She laughs, saying that it is the blood of revenge. Phanuel reveals to her his knowledge that she is a mother and points to where below them walks her daughter. With horror Herodias recognizes that her daughter and her rival are one and the same.
The scene changes to the temple, where Salome comes to pray for the safety of John. Hither Herod also repairs.
Judea is in the hands of the hated Romans. He reasons that if he saves John, the grateful Jews will help him to throw off the yoke. Then he sees Salome for the first time face to face. The terrified girl learns that she has had the misfortune to secure his favor. He swears that with his power as King he will possess her and her love. Defiantly she returns that she already loves one greater than Caesar and the heroes. Herod declares that he will find this man and deliver them both to the executioner. Now the priests and the people invade the temple and before the Holy of Holies with its thousand lights perform the sacred dances. John is present and the priests exhort the people to destroy this man who has proclaimed a false king of the Jews. Herod is appointed to judge him. To all questions the prophet answers well. His prophecy is peace and good will, his arms are The Word, his end is Liberty. Herod whispers to him to serve his projects and he will save his life, but John answers that he has naught to do with the schemes of kings. " Death to him," shout the priests.
" Crucify the false Messiah," cries Herodias. " Let us see if God will deliver him," mock the people. Salome begs to be allowed to share his fate and now Herod knows the identity of her lover.
"And I was going to save him," he mutters. " You are right," he says sagely to the priests. " He conspires against Cxsar and Rome. A Holy prophet indeed! He is the lover of Salome, the courtesan." " Death," cries the rabble and John, unafraid, is led away by the guards.
The last act shows the vault beneath the temple, where the prisoners are kept. John is reconciled to death but he longs for the presence of Salome, until bitterly he questions whether he is the herald of the true God and the elect of the apostles or only a man like other men. Salome finds her way to him and they delight in their reunion, careless of death. They are interrupted by the priests who take John to execution while slaves drag Salome to Herod.
The scene shifts to a banqueting-hall in the palace of the proconsul. Hither Salome is brought. She prays for death with John, first to Herod, then to the Queen whom she invokes as a wife. " If only you were a mother," she moans. Herodias shudders at the word, and Salome speaks bitterly of the unnatural mother who abandoned her to make an infamous marriage. The executioner appears upon a terrace with a sword dripping with blood and Salome, with a terrible cry, precipitates herself upon Herodias cry ing that she has killed the prophet.
" Pity," begs Herodias, " I am your mother." At this frightful announcement Salome thrusts the dagger into her own bosom and dies.