the latter frequently appeared to have the superiority in an argument. But truth, when sincerely brought forward, must prevail; and Medora often felt that the ground of her faith was untenable, and that a sense of dissatisfaction was creeping into her mind. Long she resisted her mother's entreaties that she would accompany her to the Christian assemblies; which, during Medora's absence, she had attended more frequently, and among the members of which she had now acquired many sincere friends. But at length curiosity overcame her resolution, and she consented to be present at the next meeting to which Marcella felt they could go without any fear of detection. This plan was the more easily carried into execution from the fact that the true believers in our Divine Lord were again suffering persecution at the hands of the heretical and half pagan Prefect, leagued with heathens, Jews, and infidels; and the members of the true church was hence compelled to meet secretly and under cover of the darkness. CHAPTER XI. HE guide who had conducted Marcella and her companions to the catacomb, was Justin, a faithful attendant and friend of Mandatus-one who was devoted to his heavenly Master, and equally faithful towards his earthly master. The third female who accompanied Marcella and her daughter, was Pyrrha, who had been Medora's nurse, and was now her constant attendant. Pyrrha was, like her young mistress, a worshipper of the gods of Egypt; and she always accompanied Medora to the great temple of Serapis, which was situated in that portion of the city called Rhacotis, bordering on Port Eunostes. This magnificent building was one of the architectural glories of Alexandria; but it was a cause of great offence to the Christian community, who used whatever power or influence they possessed in the city to have the worship of the Egyptian god abolished. Hitherto all their efforts had proved ineffectual; and the great Serapis had his temple and his worshippers, not only in Alexandria, and the more ancient cities of Thebes and Memphis, but also in Rome itself; where, so late as the middle of the third century, the temple dedicated to him and to Isis was magnificently adorned by Alexander Severus. At the shrine of Serapis in Alexandria, Medora had been a constant visitor when she was not residing with her brother at Philæ; and many were the offerings which she had there made to "the god of the swelling Nile"-which was one of the names by which the Egyptians loved to call their favourite deity—and also to Isis, whose worship was associated with that of Serapis, or Osiris. The gorgeous decorations of the temple, the splendour of the officiating priests, and the pomp and circumstance of heathen ceremonial, had always exercised great influence on the feelings and imagination of Medora. She could not realize the idea of approaching a deity—an immortal god-with merely spiritual worship, divested of costly offerings and magnificent outward show. What were then her feelings when she entered the gloomy, secluded chamber, destitute of all ornament! No furniture had this simple place of worship except a few rude seats, one higher than the rest for the officiating minister. No offering had they brought but that of sincerely devoted hearts-the best offering that man can make, and that which God loves most to receive. The number of the disciples now met together greatly surprised Medora, and Pyrrha also-who had followed her mistress as she would have followed her to the end of the earth, and who merely felt that wherever Medora saw fit to go, there it was also good for her to be by her side. They stood together, apart from the Christian congregation; for it was understood by the presbyter and his flock, that they were admitted merely as spectators, and could take no part in the service. It was the evening of the Christian sabbath, and the service was opened with a psalm, in which all the congregation joined ; |