The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

high in the heavens ; there comes a lull in the bloody proceedings , and the plain of the Coliseum is cleared of its ghastly dead . Now comes a flourish of trumpets , and the Christians are brought in , amid the hooting of the Romans , and their shouts of " to the lions . " Paulus raises his hands

to heaven , and m imitation of his Lord , cries , " Forgive them , Father , for they know not Avhat they do . " Never did Caius walk more eagerly to battle than he did UOAV to death , never more nobly did he comport himself in the hour of the

people ' s praise , than UOAV while they hooted him . Oamly he swept the galleries Avith his dreamy eyes , and at the mildness of his manner the rude

howling Romans were shamed into silence . And then rose the cry from Dentatus and his companions of " shame , " Avhich was here and there echoed through the assembly . Cassius must see the last of his victims , and it

is he who reads the charges against them of insubordination to the laAvs of the realm , treason against the Emperor , blasphemy against the gods . But when he states so , there again ai'ises from Dentatus and his friends the shout of " Cassius ,

thou liest . " The priest cooly reads the sentence" Recant , or die . " "Never , " answered Paulus , " death has no terrors for me you may destroy my body , but

you free my soul for its flight to Heaven . " " Dost thou still blaspheme , " cried Cassius . "Let God judge , thou false priest , " cried Caius , "let God judge whether thou or he blasphemes . " " Will you recant and live ?"

"No , " answered Caius , "life hath no pleasures to equal the pleasures beyond the grave . Earthly life is spiritual death , earthly death the door through which I shall pass to a spiritual life of joy and peace which the world cannot

give . " They were then conducted before the Emperor , who addressed them . " You , Paulus , Ave doom to be beheaded , and you , Caius , shall do battle with a lion , Avhen , if you are the victor , your life

will be given you , but you shall be banished from Rome . " " Now , may his arm be strong , " said Dentatus , to his companions , "he has overthroAvn the Dacians , surely he will prove the master of a lion . " Paulus and Caius embrace for the last time . " Caius , thou hast a chance for life , embrace it .

May God fight on your side . " " Nay , Paulus , the agony and bitterness of death is past . Earth hath no further joy for me , and I hear a voice calling me to another and a better land . "

"Thou art young . Remember the Lord ' s cause , ancl the goocTjthou mayest yet do . " " My death Avill do more good . It will show these Homans that a Christian only lives till he may justly die , and the blood that will be shed this day

will bear a goodly seed of souls to the cause of the Cross . No , I shall die with thee . " "But you commit a deadly sin in not preserving your life . " " Not so . God calls me home from the

weariness of flesh . " Arise , " he says , " and go . " Again they embraced warmly , and Caius , dropping on one knee , received the last benediction of the ancient Paulus . A Nubian slave approached bearing a heavy sword , while two others followed

carrying the block . "Friend , " said Paulus , touching the sword , " See that thy blade and arm prove true this day , that Rome may know how a Christian dies . " He knelt beside the block , saying to the

Nubian , " friend , I pray thee do not strike yet a while , but when I say , " noAv , " strike then and surely /'

Then laying his head upon the block , he prayed for a feAv minutes in a loud voice , that was heard by the wondering Romans all over the building . He prayed for the propagation of the Christian faith , for the doAvnfall of idolatry , and the pardon of his

murderers . In a louder voice he said— - " Farewell , Caius , till Ave meet in heaven . Into thy hands , 0 Lord Jesus , do I commend my spirit . Strike , now , strike . " The brig ht blade flashed in the sun , and the next

moment the head of the martyr rolled upon the sand . Caius lifted it reverently , and while the blood stained his dress , he respectfully kissed it on the brow . And now he is done with earth . A dagger is placed in his hand , the place is cleared

of all living beings , and Caius stands by the block and the dead body of Paulus . A door is opened in the side of the amphitheatre , and an enormous lion springs forth . The people shudder in an ecstasy of delight at the prospect of the coming

fio-ht , for never did nobler combatant enter the lists , so calm , so noble , and so valourous . Nor is the lion an ignoble foe , for amercer never trod the Mauritanean deserts .