The Knights Templars.

Nothing could compensate them for its loss . It was their God , and they prostrated themselves in the dust before it , and sang hymns Avhen it was raised aloft . " After the battle , the cords of the tents were not sufficient to bind the prisoners , ancl

the Saracens drove them about like herds of pigs . The number was so great , that a Christian Knight was exchanged for a pair of shoes . Saladin ordered the Grand Master of the

Templars , Eenaud de Chatillon , and Gny de Lusignan to be conveyed to a tent which he had caused to be prepared for their reception . Having completed his arrangements for pursuing the fleeing Christians , he entered the tent . He presented

to the Grand Master and King Guy a bowl of sherbet—the sacred pledge among the Arabs of hospitality and security . They drank of it , but AA'hen Eenaud was about to lift it to his lips , Saladin stopped him , saying , " This traitor shall not chink

in my presence , for to him I shall show no favour . " He then reproached him with his impiety , offered him the choice of acknowled ging the Prophet , Avhom he had blasphemed , or death . Whatever blame may attach to this gallant man from his

lawless acts again is the Musselmen , his death was noble , ancl fitting one who had lived so courageously . Eenaud declined abjuring the faith of his baptism , and laughed contemptuously in the face of the Sultan . Saladin , carried away by his wrath

, struck him with his sword , whereupon he was immediately despatched by the attendants . " So they sent his soul to hell , " writes an Arabian historian , " and cast his body out before the tent door . "

On the morrow , Saladin proceeded to an act of barbarism , which tarnishes the effect of his glorious victory . His hatred of the Templars was so intense , that , with the exception of De Eidefort , from whom he intended to demand a ransom , he resolved to

put every one of them to death . He commanded them to be brought before him , and swore to make an end of the unclean race . At the hour of sunset , the work of death commenced . The Templars Avere surrounded by the Sultan ' s Turkish emirs

, dressed iu their yellow robes , and bearing naked scymitars in their hands . The Knights were offered the choice of death or to become worshippers of Mahomet . The sun ' s rays were

mldiim-* - ** the tops of the hills , and sparkling upon the waters of Hberias , the scenes of many of our Lord ' s mightiest miracles . That sight animated them , and they to a man chose death . Around the

throne of the Sultan were grouped numbers of doctors of the law . Saladin permitted them each to slay a Knight . Many refused , and turned their eyes away from the carnage ; but others , arming themselves with scymitars , fell upon and

slaughtered the weaponless ancl pinioned Templars . Saladin sat on his throne enjoying the spectacle with brutal glee , and even applauded those AVIIO showed the most skill iu butchering ; the Knights .

The Templars , on their part , manifested a degree of eagerness for mart 3 * rdom which perplexed and confounded the Musselmen . Brother Nicholas displayed much anxiety to be the first A * ictim , and even strove with his companions for

that distinction , which with difficulty he obtained . AVhen about to receive the death-blow , he sang songs of rejoicing ; and the chroniclers tell how that for three nights a celestial light burned above the un buried body of the Christian martyr .

Hiscompanions , fired by his enthusiasm , gladly welcomed death and many of the Christians , wha had been brought out to view the massacre , threw around them the white mantle of the Order , that , dying with the Knights , they might enter with , them the . rates of Heaven .

After this decisive victory , the Countess of Tripoli surrendered the citadel of Tiberias to Saladin , and was permitted by him to rejoin her husband . Eaymond attempted afterwards to renew his negociations with Saladin for the

throneof Jerusalem , but the Sultan would no longertreat with him . He had resolved to destroy thepower of the Christians for ever in the Holy Land , and to restore it to the followers of the Prophet .. Disappointed in this scheme , and cast off by the

Christians , Eaymond was found shortly after dead in his bed , having fallen a martyr to disappointed , ambition and despair . The Musselmen accused him of having broken the most solemn treaties , aud the Christians of having betrayed both his God ancl his brethren . Several of the chroniclers

accuse him ot having secretly become a Mahometan , but his actions prove better the complete villainy and worthlessness of his character . ( 2 b be continued . )

MASON *? , OBI : V YOUK ORDERS . — -How many victories have been lost because subordinates considered tho orders of thoir superiors unreasonable or unwise . - 'Sire , " said tho Marshal to Napoleon , "itis impossible to lead tiie troops by tho ronto you have pointed out . "' "Lot mo see the order , " said Napoleon . He took it , read it , returned it . and only said , " That is your order ; execute it . " Ho did execute it ; and the army of Napoleon ivas soon bearing tho victorious eagles ol Franco across tho plains of Lombardy .