The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

his heart . that would reduce him soon to ashes . But when the spirit is freed from the dominion of the body , when the soul flies up to God , then will it become a fit receptacle for a joy that only faintly gleams upon us on this earth . Sorrow is the best

friend of man . It is the stone whose touch turns brass to gold ; it clears the heart , and purifies its dross . "

"Yet must he suffer . I fear for him . " " Fear not . Had she been pure , and severed hy her friends from him , he might have mourned for her to the last hour . Had death stept in and taken her from his arms , with her he mi ght have

died ; but where a blot of loud and damning infamy divides his loathing soul , that will drive her from his heart . We mourn with tears of blood the innocent , but rage and scorn fill the heart at the debased . "

While he spoke , Caius , pale , shocked , with the marks of an awful mental blow upon his countenance , entered the apartment . Paulus and Adrian gazed at him in silence . Caius approached the latter and threw himself into his arms .

"Isit over ? ' asked he . "Aye . " " How did she receive the tidings ?" "As the noble conscious victim to an ie-noble o cause . Pale , passionless in seeming , but with an

inward grief too great to shed a tear . " Then with a burst of feeling he exclaimed : "Paulus , she is not wholly false , but some damned fraud has made her what she is . Can

God , this new Deity you have revealed to us not save the weak and innocent , and prevent the ruthless feet of crime from trampling them into the mire ? Can He , who sacrificed his Son , not stretch forth his strong hand to save the pure from

destruction ? I dimly understood her wrongs . If God be just , wherefore does He not do her justice ?" " Revile not Him , " answered Paulus sternly , " who doth all things so well , " and then he added

more gently . " Let not thine indignation , nor the woe which grapples with thy heart and better judgment , arraign our God . ' Earth worms we are , although in his image formed . Our minds are less than the least of those who stand before his face

for ever , than those to whom his decrees are given for execution . They hear , they execute , but do not understand . To man , contrary appear the decrees of God . He sees them but in part , but when the whole shall be unfolded to his view , then

shall he find how marvellous his deeds are—in judgment , wise ; in mercy , beautiful . And mark my words ! He will revenge this wrong in his own time and way . We cannot tell the secrets of life . He can , and He will display them to us in a proper

hour . Meanwhile , my son , ponder upon his decree— ' Vengeance is mine , ' so leave them to their God . "

"So be it , " replied Caius , turning to his cousin . "Adrian , do you remember last night ' s banquet ?" " Yes . " " Do you remember the dread that fell upon

Balbus at the spilling of the salt ?" "I do . " " The augury in his case has been true . " "What ! Is he dead ?" " Aye . Dead as if he had never been . Better

for him had he never been born . " " How sudden it is . How know you of it ?" "I saw him die , " said Caius gloomily . " You saw him die , Caius ? " cried Adrian warmly . "I did not love the man , but yet I

would have tried to save him . I do not recognise Caius Fabius in that act . " " Believe me , my cousin , no power of mine could have saved him . His hour had come . ""

"But how did he die ?" " By the executioner ' s hand , lashed first with rods , then beheaded and his body cast into tho Tiber . " " He must have been a great criminal , "

said Adrian , unable to control a shudder of horror . "Among the greatest , " answered Caius , narratino- the death of Cenna , and Balbus ' s connection with Bacchanals . He carefully forebore

mentioning Sempronia ' s name , the Emperor ' s command sealing his lips . Exclamations of surprise and horror escaped his auditors as they listened , and when the tale was told , they sat in silence for a long space , each wrapped in his own

thoughts . At length Paulus arose , and took the hand of Caius . " Come , my sad Caius , " he said . " Come with me to the presence of the God of all good things . Already has Adrian seen our little baud arranged

in worship at the footstool of the Most High . The hour of evening prayer approaches . Come then , and enter into our fold . " ( To he continued . ) [ Tho Author reserves tho right of reproduction and translation . " !