The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

THE NEMESIS : A TALE OF THE DAYS OF TRAJAN .

By BKO . A . OSEJIL HATE , JOf ., K Gal ., Corresponding Member of the German Society , Leipzig ; Knight Templar , Scot . ; Author of " The History of the Knights Templars ;" " Vara Queer ; " " Gatherings in Wanderings ; " "Songs and Ballads ; " " Poemata ; " " Legends of JEdinhurg hf Bee ., fyc , Sj'c . ; Poet Laureate of thc Canongate , Kiliuinning ; P . M . St . Stephens ; P . P . Z . of St . Andrews , E . A .

Cheep . ; 8 ) C . ; Sfc . ( Continued from page 367 . ) CHAPTER XXXIV . AREEST OE THE CHEISTIANS . " Where ' er thou flndest one of Christian faith ,

Arrest him By the gods , the Eoman ' s voice Shall doivn tiiein to tbe lions . " Three months have passed since the trajedy related in the last chapter occurred . Rome had forgot it , and upon Myra ' s heart the first burst of

woe had broken , andleft a melancholy calmbehind . Caius , too , had ceased to nourish his bitter grief in the study of his new creed , and proved himself an able coadjutor to Paulus in carrying on the extension of the Christian faith . Adrian , too , had

had enough to occupy his attention . The daily conversations which he held with Myra had deepened his first impression , the death of her relatives had removed any bar to his asking her to join her lot with his , and much to the

satisfaction of Paulus , Lucidora , and Caius , she , at length "was persuaded to this step , for the memory of the sins of her house pressed the young girl ' s heart down , and made her consider herself an outcast from society . We reopen our tale on the morning of their marriage . The cousins were seated together , hand in hand .

" Cams , wilt thou not leave Home with ns ? Come for a time to Ephesus . Change of scene will do thee good , and help to deaden the pain that still lingers in thy heart from the memories of the past . "

"Nay , Adrian , my place is here . Paulus groweth old , and needeth my help . It is but right that Myra be removed from all scenes which may recall the dead , but you forget , I have a potent spell in mj ivork to rear joy and not sorrow . "

" I feel as if I was acting a cowardly part in leaving thee here in the midst of danger . But in a year or tAvo I shall return to Home , never to leave thee , or better still , after a space both you and Paulus may come to us . "

" Adrian , a secret monitor tells me that I shall never leave Rome . You may come to me , but I— never to you . Happiness , my cousin , will

smile upon your life , and a celestial happiness shines upon mine . The alleviation of human misery , the rescuing of souls from the grave , have in them greater stores of pleasure than all temporal enjoyment . But come , the hour has arrived .

Now the brideo-room must seek the bride . " The marriage had been arranged to be celebrated in the chapel within the catacombs . Adrian and Lucidora would have had it in the latter's house , but Myra desired that her new life should

commence in that spot , where the faithful had so often met , and her desire carried the day . The chapel had not been used for many months on account of the cold weather , and also on account of the increasing vigilance of the priests , who were

constantly on the watch for Christians . Cassius had never lost sight of the chapel , and regularly had it watched . Although the absence of any tangible proof of its being used during the period , he could not be brought to consider it as abandoned . Every day he had it searched , and fatally so , as our story will relate .

Paulus , Lucidora , Adrian , Myra , and Cams were all who were present at the ceremony . By the light of a taper the marriage service was read , and they had risen from their knees after the concluding prayer , when a hoarse laugh grated ,

upon their ears . Turning round in astonishment they saw the face of the High Priest , Cassius , at the doorway . Caius was the first to recover himself .

" What want you here ? " he asked . " What want I here ? " replied the High Priest , and then recognising Caius , he exclaimed , in wonder , " you , Caius Fabius , a Christian ?" " You shirk my question Cassius . What want

you here ? That is what I want to know . " Cassius stept back a pace , and gave a shrill ivhistle , which scarcely had died away when the tramp of armed men resounded through the passages , and by the glare of torches Caius could

see the helmets of a centurions band . Backed by this military force , Cassius entered the apartment , saying—¦ " In the name of the Emperor , I arrest you . " Myra threw her arms around Adrian , while

Paulus and Lucidora raised tlieirs to heaven . Resistance was in vain , and they were conducted from the catacombs direct to the presence of Trajan . The Emperor ivas surprised at the persons brought before him , and said , laughingly—r " What dream is this , Cassius , and ivhy do