beg forgiveness for the momentary slight. I had been severely beaten, and was made mad with rage.

My life is

"Alas! I have no power with Tigellinus, and know not what you mean. I know well that a man like you can do what you please with a poor man like me. Spare me! in your hands. On my knees, I ask that life of you." And Hegio, in his abject submission, actually fell down and clasped the knees of Cineas.

His touch affected Cineas like that of a reptile.

"Rise," said he, coldly; "I don't want your life. I'm glad that you understand me so well as to know that I could easily destroy it if I wished. But I don't wish it."

Hegio rose and overwhelmed him with his thanks.

"Hear me," said Cineas, "and then go. As I am entering upon the care of this estate, I wish to know how its affairs have been since Labeo left. Make up full accounts of everything. Beware how you falsify anything. For

Present them to me.

I declare to you that if I suspect a single statement, I will have everything examined; and woe be to you if ever it comes to that! Now go!"

Hegio attempted to speak.

"Give me time-"

"Time? Oh, I will not hurry you.

Take a month or two.

Only remember what I have said, and beware! Now go!"

And Hegio, bowing low, left the room with a face of agony.

VIII.

"The Master."

MONG the many estates adjoining that of Labeo was one belonging to Aulus Plautius, a man of high rank, who had made the first conquests in Britain under the Emperor Claudius. He had been governor there; and his conquests were extended by others until the revolt. He had seen hard service, and knew the Britons thoroughly. Helena had become acquainted with his wife on her first arrival here; but sorrow and sickness kept her much at home, so that there had not been much intercourse with them.

Her name was Pomponia Græcina. She was a lady of noble lineage and nobler character. While the nurse was slowly recovering, Helena was one day surprised and pleased to see Pomponia coming on a visit. Apart from the pleasure which she felt at seeing her, she had also a faint hope that some news might have been received from Britain. After the customary salutations, and some conversation of a general nature, Pomponia remarked,

"I need not ask you if you feel anxious about your husband. I know well what it is to have such distress, for my husband fought against them, as you know; but at the same time, dear friend, I think there is every reason for hope."

She then went on to tell Helena much that was in the highest degree comforting. She pointed out the peculiarities of

the Britons, their sudden attacks, their jealousies, and private feuds, their tendency to fall away from any common cause after a short period. She affirmed that her own husband thought there was not the slightest cause of fear for the army of Suetonius; but that with any kind of generalship at all it would inevitably overthrow the Britons and take vengeance upon them.

These words from such a source had much more effect than anything that had been said to Helena. They reassured her. Aulus certainly knew, if any one could, and his opinion was now worth much to her.

Pomponia was pleased to see the visible effect of her words in the heightened animation which at once appeared in Helena. "Dear friend," said she, "the period when my husband was absent was the most remarkable in my life. Never shall I forget it. During his wars communication was sometimes interrupted and I was harassed by terrible anxiety. I did not know what to do or where to go."

"And how did it end? what happened?" asked Helena, as Pomponia paused.

return.

"I used to offer up vows incessantly for my husband's safe But the gods of our religion always appeared in a fearful light to me. I did not believe the ordinary legends about them; but I had no other knowledge of them than this. I acted from a kind of superstition, and felt all the time that it was superstition only. My vows were made to a set of immoral demons, or else they were made to chance, or nothing at all. This was that which troubled me. But perhaps I am wearying you while thus talking about myself."

Wearying me? Oh, no," cried Helena; "I long to hear it all. What mercy has sent you to me? I have felt all these doubts, though of a somewhat different nature, and even now am longing for something better than the common religion, or the Greek philosophy."

"Dear friend," said Pomponia, with deep emotion, "per

haps you may be benefited by my story. I knew nothing of philosophy. I was but a simple woman, with no more than the common training-but I will go on. My maid used often to notice my distress, and at length perceived the cause of it, and all my wishes and desires.

"This maid was a Cyrenean, and had been with me for some time. Her religion was altogether different from mine. I never thought much about it, for every race has its own superstitions ; ⚫ and I fancied that hers were like all the rest.

"But I soon had reason to see differently. Gradually, and with the deepest respect, she began to speak about her religion. My attention was aroused and my interest excited. There was something in it that deeply impressed me. She spoke of one Supreme Being the True God, who rules all and regards all things. She told how this One created men, but they sinned against him. She told how he pitied them even after they had sinned, and formed plans for their safety. She went on to tell me of many messengers whom God had sent to the world,— men of whom we in Greece and Rome have never heard, but who yet gave his messages to men in writings which yet exist. Above all, they told how One was coming who would make all things plain, and show to the world a new religion and a new hope.

"She had a scroll of many of these wonderful messages, from which she read words so full of love and mercy, so amazing in their meaning, and filled with such sublime ideas, that I felt in my very heart that they must come from heaven. Love and mercy from the great Deity! This was the thought that came into my mind, to remain there for ever. Then my maid read to me the strange announcements and prophecies of One who was coming. At last she read me a book which told that he had come."

"That he has come !" cried Helena, clasping her hands, and turning to Pomponia more closely, with streaming eyes. "Oh,

how your words sink into my soul! Who is he, and when did he come?"

"That book which my maid read to me told a wonderful story of One who became man for our sakes, and lived in the world for years, and was finally put to death."

"Put to death !"

Helena repeated the words with an awful look.

"Ah! dear friend, you have yet to learn the most wonderful story that ever was told-how he came and was born on earth; how he lived and taught what loving words he said; what gentleness and infinite pity dwelt in all his words and acts; what immortal love sustained him through all that life of his. You have yet to learn"-and Pomponia's voice sank to a lower and more solemn tone-" how he was betrayed, and tried for his life, and beaten, and scourged, and reviled; and, after suffering all possible indignities, how he was crucified."

These words thrilled through Helena. They were new to her. She had heard of the Christians, and had known that they worshipped One who had been crucified; but never had thought of the full meaning of that fact. She had believed them to be an obscure and ignorant sect; and until she knew that the nurse was one of them, she thought them immoral. But now their belief was presented by one whom she revered, in a way that filled her with mingled wonder and horror. Was this crucified One the One to whom she was seeking access? Was this the One whom she had sought so long?

"I will not tell this story in my weak words," said Pomponia; "but let me give you that precious book, where all is told. I will bring it to you. You can read it then. It is for you. All that I found in it, when my maid gave it to me, you can find in it, peace, hope, and blessings beyond all thought."

"Oh, bring me that book, if you have such a book," said Helena. "It is now the one idea and hope of my life to know something of him.”