"He ought to be a Roman," said Carbo. "He is a man of the right sort. I care not what his accusers say of him, he is the highest type of man."

"Such a man," said Julius, "as answers the noble description of Horace,

"The upright man, the man of iron will;

Nor civil fury urging on to ill,

Nor raging despot's angry frown,

Can cast his steadfast spirit down;

Nor the fierce wind that rules the Adrian Sea,

Nor Jove, when all his lightnings are set free,

Though all the world to ruin roll,

He views the wreck with fearless soul.'

"But he had something more than mere courage," he added, musingly; "he had that spiritual power to sustain him which made him superior to other men. By that supernatural influence he was enabled to foretell our deliverance, to save himself from the most venomous of reptiles, and to heal the sick by his touch." "He is a wizard," said Carbo. "He draws his power from some unhallowed source."

"Unhallowed?

His whole life is hallowed, and all his thoughts and words. For, mark you, he does all this out of kindness and pity; he is no wizard, seeking for gain. He is poor, and has often to work with his own hands for his bread." "If he has this supernatural power, would he need to work? Could he not turn stones into gold?" said Carbo.

"He does not, at anyrate; and yet I know that he has this power, for I have seen it. He never boasts,-never makes displays. But when the poor father carries to him the emaciated form of his child, or the weeping mother implores him to come and save her dying son, then his face lights up with an expression of more than human pity, and he goes, in his kindness and tenderness, to pray over the sick and save them. He says it is all done by the Deity, to whom he humbly prays; that he is only a weak man, and of himself can do nothing.

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One of his companions told me many more things about

him. He told me of his wonderful travels over the East and Greece, how he was sometimes stoned almost to death, and at other times worshipped as a god. This man, who was his companion, was himself an extraordinary personage, with much of the calmness and deep-set purpose of Paul; but he seemed to think himself as nothing in comparison with his friend."

"Oh, this supernatural power is not so unintelligible!" said Carbo. "Didn't Socrates have an attendant spirit?"

"The attendant spirit of Socrates was very different from this. It was a kind of inward monitor, which forewarned him of danger; it was not an active power like this, by which he could heal the sick."

Cineas said but little. The wonderful story of Julius sank deep into his mind. Already this man Paul had been prominent in his thoughts. Now circumstances had thrown around

him a new and stronger attraction.

"What are these great doctrines that you allude to with so much emphasis?" asked Carbo. "What is Paul? What does

he teach? What is this new thing, for which he suffers so much and is ready to die?"

"I cannot unfold them fully just now," said Julius. “He is, however, a Christian-"

"A Christian!" cried Carbo, interrupting him. "What! only a Christian!"

His face assumed an expression of mingled contempt and disappointment.

"I know them, the curse of Rome and the offscouring of the earth. These are the men and the doctrines that are ruining the empire."

"How?" asked Julius, mildly.

"Why, they practise abominable secret vices."

"I know that to be false," said Julius; "for I have attended very many of their most secret meetings, and I affirm to you that their object is a pure and holy one."

"Well, then, they are at least cowards; they teach that fighting is wrong, that cowardice is pleasing to their God. Rome is effeminate enough already; but this doctrine is the very thing that can extinguish the last spark of manhood."

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"My father," said Julius, calmly, as soon as Carbo had ended, was this man whom I have been describing a coward? He, who shamed us Roman soldiers by his heroism in the face of appalling disaster, a coward? Would that there were more of them !"

"No," said Carbo, frankly; "he, at least, is no coward. Faith! nothing tries a man more than shipwreck."

"And, I assure you, the others are like him in this. You have heard the idle tales of their enemies; for, of all men on carth, the Christians have the least fear of death. In Asia many have had to suffer and die; and they always go to execution not merely with calmness, but even with joy."

"Joy?"

"Yes. Such is their religion that they are convinced that they will be happy for ever in heaven; and so they have no fear of death. Can such men be cowards?"

Carbo was silent.

For the remainder of the day, Cineas and Julius had much to say to one another. More conversation about the Christians followed; but Cineas had much to communicate about the absence of Labeo and the villany of Hegio. They sepa rated in the evening with mutual promises to visit one another. "And I will take you to see this wonderful Jew some day," said Julius, with a smile that did not altogether conceal his deep earnestness in this proposal.

VII.

The Syrian Learns a Lesson.

EN weeks had passed away since the nurse was first taken sick, and she now began to recover the use of her faculties. Isaac, true to his promise, was unremitting in his care; and his skill was rewarded

by success. He received the thanks and praises of Helena with equanimity, and continued his care with better prospects than ever.

When the nurse began to be conscious again of surrounding events, she recognized first of all the tender care of Helena. No words seemed sufficient to her to express her gratitude. She poured forth all the warm emotions of a generous heart to her mistress, and declared that nothing could be a sufficient return for so much kindness.

At times her thoughts would revert to that mournful event in her life which had been so bitterly brought before her recollection by Cineas, and Helena could understand the sadness which her face wore; but calmness would succeed, as other things came to her mind, and the usual serenity reigned upon her face, which distinguished it before. Helena was careful to make no allusion to this great sorrow, and refrained from touching upon any subject which might, by any possibility, be associated with it. She chose rather to talk to her of her recovery, and of the time when she could again resume her care of Marcus.

As for Marcus, his joy was unbounded when the nurse recognized him again. He had been deeply grieved that she had through all her sickness taken no notice of him, and had feared, in his childish way, that he had done something to offend her; but now returning reason and health brought back all her former affection, and he saw that she was unchanged.

"You are my own dear nurse again,” he said, as he embraced her fondly and kissed her pale face. "And now you will soon walk with me hand in hand, as you used to do, under the plane-trees, and tell me about the dear God and Saviour, and all those wonderful stories. And oh, dearest nurse, I have

forgotten none of them; but I have thought of them every night till I fell asleep, and then I used to dream of them till morning."

The nurse fondly stroked the boy's head with her thin hand, and tears came to her eyes.

"Yes, my sweet child; I have many and many stories to tell, and, if it be God's will, we will again walk under the plane-trees."

"And I will be a listener," said Helena, gently.

The nurse looked up inquiringly, with a strange and eager curiosity in her eyes.

"I have heard so much of your stories from Marcus," said Helena, kindly, "that I want to know more. Do you know what it is to have within you a longing and craving after some better source of comfort than this life affords? You do, you do! You can sympathize with me."

"With you, most beloved mistress?" exclaimed the nurse, her face now radiant with hope; "I would lay down my life If I but dared to tell you what I know; if you would

for you. but listen,"

She paused.

"My soul," said Helena, in low, earnest tones, "my soul longs for rest.

There is One who alone can give it this. You