The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

she resolved first to get rid of her sister to succeed to her j > osition . In an evil hour Murtius succumbed to her blandishments , and became her slave . Lais poisoned her sister , and so succeeded in her schemes . But she soon tired of Murtius ,

and unknoAvn to him found other lovers , one of them being the father of Myra . The Avrong she had done to Murtius ancl her sister instead of creating remorse , produced hate , ancl she resolved to drag their child Phryne down

to her OAVU level . Murtius was in difficulties , and Lais introduced to him an olcl rich rascal , who lent him money , and so gained access to his house . The lender fell madly in love Avith Phryne , but as he Avas already married , he could not aspire to her .

Lais soon read his secret , tempted him , and one night having drugged Phryne , her aAvful purpose Avas accomplished .

MeanAvhile Hermes plied his suit , and Phryne listened to him , liked him , and would have married him , had not the terrible wrong been done her . Lais , who had been ignorant of his proposal , Avhen she heard of it pressed Phryne to accept of him ,

but she Avould not , and in a subsequent interview dismissed him . Wild and broken hearted at his refusal Hermes sickened . The confederate of Lais lost his wife ancl come to Phryne with offers of marriage . Hermes heard of this , and the idea

that he had been sacrificed for gold killed him . But the justice of heaven did not favour Lais ' schemes . Before her confederate ' s marriage with Phryne , he saw another girl , fell senile-madly in love AA'ith her , and married her . Phryne gave

birth to a child shortly after , whose first breath AA'as its last , and the Athenians coming to hear of these dark doings , Murtius ancl Lais , Avith Phryne and Myra , then a girl of twelve , came to Rome .

Paulus , in telling his dark story , carefully forebore mentioning his OAATI name , and Avhen he had concluded , Caius AVIIO had been horror struck at its infamy , although the solemn tones of the narrator carried truth with them , he

exclaimed" Oh - 'tis too horrible a tale to be true !" " Alas , " said Adrian , " my poor cousin , I fear it is too true . I heard some faint rumour of it myself in Athens . Bear up against this blow like a man . "

" Tis true m every part , for it Avas my OAVU son that perished , hounded to the death by Phryne ' s cruelty . Think you that I would wilfully bear false witness ,. Caius ? your cousin will tell you who I am . "

Caius looked at Adrian , who said , " He is incapable of telling a lie . " Caius , on hearing this affirmation , flung himself down upon a seat and buried his face in his hands , AAdiile his breast heaved in agony . Adrian went to

him , and passing his arm round his neck , said , " Bear up , my cousin , and call all your fortitude to your aid—cast her image like a Avorthless rag your heart , for she is not worth one tear . " " Not for her loss / ' replied Caius , " do I shed

these tears , but for the shock this gives my dreams , scattering to the winds my trust in Avoman , and my faith in man . " " Learn , then , to place your trust upon a higher power than earth's , " replied Paulus , " place it

upon that God Avhose heart can feel each throb that smites thine OAVU ; who sees and pities Avith a father ' s pity each pang that causes the tear tofloAA ' . " "Can God know grief ? " asked Caius , in

surprise . " HOAV may He else be father of his fold , if He knows nothing of his children ' s sorrows . Go , read that roll . It will tell you more of grief , felt by a God , than earth can ever know . " Through the live-long night did the cousins

peruse that wondrous story , which told briefly , but clearly , the purpose Avhich brought the Saviour to the earth , and of his life ancl death . Gradually the light poured in upon the darkness of their minds , for was it not a strange , a superhuman

knoAvledge , that was revealed to them ? They saw Him in the cradle , ' a fugitive in his mothers arms fleeing from the massacre of the innocents , a conqueror over the temptations of the devil , a great lawgiver , a teacher of brotherly love , and of

peace ancl good-will to all men , lastly a victim led to the sacrifice , in all showing the perfect man , the all-powerful God . It filled their hearts with a neAV joy , before Avhich fled the dark doubts of Adrian , and in which was half forgotten the grief

of Gains . The ' rays of the sun found them seated in deep converse , before them spread the wondrousscroll .

"Is it not marvellous ? " exclaimed Adrian " HOAV paltry seem the griefs of this world , placed face to face with Christ ' s . My mind expanded into joy as I read—" " It is most wonderful ! I stand like one whose

ail scarcely ruffles off the skin , before a man whose body , shattered by a thousand blows , can scarcely retain the soul . Ah , Adrian , this is truth I"