The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

" NOAV shall we see sport , " said Lycus , " Caius will pin that felloAv like an apple on a bodkin . See IIOAV calmly he bears himself , as if it was but a wrestling match in the gymnasium . NOAV for one good strong stab to the heart . "

The lion ran hither and thither , sniffing at the bloody stains upon the sand , gradually approaching the spot Avhere Caius stood . With a roar it scents the dead body of Paulus , and sees its human antagonist . Crouching doAvn upon its belly , and

lashing its sides fiercely with its tail , it prepares to spring . Then , to the astonishment of the Romans , Caius raised his hand , and cast from him his dagger , and crossing his arms upon his breast , calmly awaited the fatal moment . On seeing him pitch away his dagger , Lycus cried" Save him !"

Being seated on the ground tier , to drop into the amphitheatre Avas the work of an instant , and , unsheathing their SAvords , Lycus , Dentatus , Sempronius , and Marcellus hurried over to the lion , while the spectators sat aghast . But ere they could

reach him the lion made the spring , and the next moment Caius had crossed the dark river , " Avhere the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest . "

Lycus , at one thrust , drove his SAvord to theheart of the lion , and then spreading his cloak upon the ground , he , assisted by Sempronius , placed thereon the head and body of Paulus . Some others , old comrades of Cains ' , UOAV joined them , and they

raised the bodies of the martyrs upon their shoulders preparatory to conveying them forth for burial . Then Lycus turned to the Emperor , and cried aloud" Whoever says that Paulus and Caius Fabius

were not honourable , brave , and innocent men , lies , and whoever says that they have not fallen victims to the Priest Cassius' arts , also lies . " At that moment a loud peal of thunder broke across the sky , terrifying the superstitious

Romans . " Do you hear them ? " cried Lycus , " the gods proclaim their innocence . Tremble , Cassius , for the vengeance of heaven will pursue thee for this innocent blood . "

And UOAV the Coliseum empties its vast crowds , and through the streets of Rome are borne the noble dead , and side by side in the tomb of the Fabii , the last of the Arati —• and the last of the Fabii , are laid to aAvait the Resurrection . { The Author reserves tho right of reproduction ancl translation . *

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

SECTJIAEISM ; . A correspondent asks some questions as to the course to be taken in regard to an individual professing Secularism , who seeks to be received into Freemasonry . Secularism is the term applied to a system of ethics began to be advocated about twenty

years ago . Jn a brief account of the doctrines of Secularism hy one Avho had adopted them , I find the following passages : — "There is unquestionably a vast outlying class in every European country , and especially in our Indian territories , Avho are without the pale of Christianity . They reject it , they dislike it ,

or they do not understand it . Secularism is intended for these , and for all who find theology indefinite , or inadequate , or deem it unreliable . It may be a misfortune that the principles of Theism , or the acceptance of the Bible , cannot be rendered promptly acceptable to them . Secularism is not atheistic

, Atheism being alien to Secularism , which concerns itself Avith the affirmative . Secularism might call itself religious if it was alloAvable to use the term without including some distinctive theory of Theism , which is equally excluded from the subject matter of Secularismas uot coming within the region of

, positive knoAvledge . " It may , I apprehend , be inferred from these passages that Secularism does not require a belief in the existence of God . Before , therefore , the individual alluded to is admitted into the Craft , it should be ascertained that he recognises the Great Architect of the Universe . —C . P . COOPEE .

ANTIQUITIES . A brother , fresh from Oxford , writes that learned men long ago critically examined the Indian antiquities , Chinese antiquities , Chaldtean antiquities , Persian antiquities , Arabian antiquities , Phoenician antiquities , Hebrew antiquities , Egyptian antiquities ,

Grecian antiquities , Etruscan antiquities , and Roman antiquities , and that the true has , in great measure , been separated from the false . Then , expressing surprise that learned men have not in like manner critically examined Masonic antiquities , he announces the intention of himself undertaking this

longdiffi-, cult , and delicate work . I beg my young correspondent to accept my thanks for his communication . He has my sincere Avishes for the successful accomplishment of his task . —C . P . COOPEE .

ANCIENT MTSTEKIES—SOUL ' S IMMOETALITY . Remember , Brother , that the soul ' s immortality was in general part of the creed of those nations in Avhich mysteries were celebrated . In your investigation , therefore , the doctrine of the soul ' s immortality can occasion very little trouble . —0 . P . COOPEE .

GOLD . Readers of the Freemasons'' Magazine will , I fear , be puzzled . Nevertheless , Brother , I adopt your metaphorical language . Understand , then , that Freemasonry says nothing of nuggets . To get at the goldthere must be the crushingand the stamping

, , , and the grinding , and the washing . —0 . P . COOPEE . TBANSMIGEATION 01 ? SOULS . Brother , you forget . The transmigration of