The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

of the justice due to a traitor . NOAV , listen , " said he , turning to the assembly . " I Avill relate to you a little incident which may prove to everyone that a member dare not attempt an act of treachery Avithout such a crime becoming known to us , or

that he can safely harbour a single dangerous thought against the Avelfare of our order . "I Avould not , " says Horace , " dwell beneath the same roof , nor trust myself in the same fragile bark , with the man who has betrayed the Eleusinian

Mysteries , and he who dares harbour treachery in his heart against ns , had better hide himself in the fires of Vesuvius , or in the embrace of Charybdis , for only there will he be safe from our vengeance and pursuit . '"

Lycus paused for a little , and eyed Cossus sternly AVIIO began to feel the presence of danger . The others looked on impassively . Lycus continued :

" Once upon a time , in a great city , there was a society of our Mystics , AA-IIO met to discuss the true principles of philosophy and those truths Avhich , if uttered in the outer world , would doom us to death , as revilers of the gods , and hand us

over to the tender mercies of a bigotfced and bloodthirsty priesthood . A young noble of the . city , esteemed for his bravery and supposed honour , sought admittance , and Avas initiated into our mysteries . Thereafter perceiving IIOAV he might

rise in favour Avith the great—do not move , Cossus ! agreed Avith a priest , Avhen he had been fully instructed in our lore , to betray his associates . Luckily , this scheme came to the knoAA'ledge of one of the intended victims , on the morning Avhen

this traitor Avould have been further enlightened in our mysteries . He Avent up to the traitor , in the middle of the assembly , and said , —and Lycus , as he spoke , approached the alarmed Cossus , and touching him on the breast , exclaimed , " Cossus ,

thou art the man , thou wouldst betray us !" Had a thunderbolt crashed through the earth , greater consternation could not have been produced . The members sprang * to their feet , as Cossus , covering his face Avith his hands , fell to the ground .

"Yes , " continued Lycus , pointing to Cossus , " there the traitor lies , Avho Avould have bartered his honour for the hand of a Avoman , our lives for an emperor ' s favour . This morning , at an audience with the emperor , Cassius , the High Priest of Capitoline Jove , told Trajan that this miscreant had undertaken to betray us ; and doubtles soon

a proclamation Avill be issued for the persecution of the folloAvers of Bacchus , the Christians and ourselves , classed together as equally worthy of death Avith the vilest of malefactors . I have stated the crime , upon the altar , I swear it to be true , what does the criminal deserve at our hands ?"

" Death , " uttered the assembly . " And that sentence I demand shall be executed upon him , in the name of our outraged mysteries , and in the name of ourselves , Avhose lives he has perilled , and thus , I , his accuser , degrade him from

our society . " Lycus stripped him of his white robe and gold chain , which he flung into a corner , and then took his seat among his companions . A long silence ensued , only broken by the convulsive sobs of

Cossus . Such a treachery had never occurred in the recollection of the members , and each seemed less inclined than his neighbour to demand the

execution of the punishment . At length Paulus arose and spoke : * "' Cossus , " he exclaimed in tones of the profoundest sorrow , " infatuated youth , Avhat has tempted thee to the commission of this great

crime ? Could the fair face of a Avoman not become thine , Avithout the commission of such extravagant treachery ? could woman ' s love Avipe out the stains of dishonour , or thy marriage bed be blest , with such an offence upon it ? Oould ' st

thou hope that justice would close its eye over such an enormity , or that our vigilance could sleep Avhen our lives were put in peril ? Hast thou seen so little of us as not to know that our numbers

embrace every rank of life , and every city ? Are our A ' OAVS uttered in vain ? Have Ave not wills to sentence , and hands to execute our sentences ? Is not justice sure , though she be slow—certain in her stroke , though blind ? Hast thou nothing to

say why thy life should not be forfeited to our broken laAvs ? Thou shakest thy head , and another must plead for thee . " Turning to the assembly , Paulus addressed them . ** " My friends , my brothers , coheirs with

me in the sublime truths of morality and honour , let us pause before we take this erring one ' s life ; let us not hurry him into that Avorld beyond the grave , with the sin of treachery upon his shoulders . We can take his life , but when taken Ave cannot

give it back . We knoAV not the luring temptations that have been placed in his way , and let us not judge him too hastily , lest Ave too perhaps , hereafter fall into the same crime . "