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Thy heroics thou wastest

thy insolence too.

Go, dispute with the lion the quarry he holds

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When thou seest him tear with his talons the prey.
Of no use all thy menaces vain sobs, vain prayers:
Be sure once for all that thy childishness fails.
While I live, no man kindles this signal to-night!

CONSTANTINE. While thou livest! What word do I catch from thy mouth?

While thou livest? O blocdy and terrible thought!

In my brain is set loose worse than horror, than death!
MICHAEL. I guess not thy meaning. Wouldst see me a corpse ?
CONSTANTINE. I dream in this moment that one thou - shouldst
be-

By a doom full of shame, by the traitor's own fate!
MICHAEL. What dost mean?

CONSTANTINE. Ah, I think, while we parley so long,
Othorgul and his Turks in the valleys approach -
Each instant that's spent makes accomplice of — me!
I think of the duty that I must fulfil.
MICHAEL. What "duty"?

CONSTANTINE [with desperate resolution]. I say to myself that, unjust,

I have wished from the chastisement - death
Lo, thy life is a menace, escaping the axe,

A menace to all. And I have here my sword!

MICHAEL [in horror]. Thou! Thy sword!

thee to save.

CONSTANTINE. Yes, of old, without blemish, my blade Has known well how to stand between death and thy brow;

Still witness to that is the wound that I bear

But since such keen envy, such ignoble love,

Have made of my hero a creature so base;

Since to scorn of all men, toward the Turk thou dost turn,
To beg at his hands for the crown thou usurp'st -
See, my sword, in its honor, leaps out from its sheath
And commands me thy judge and thy doomsman to be.

[He draws his sword.] MICHAEL [drawing his sword in turn.] My sword then behold! It is fearless of thine!

CONSTANTINE. 'Tis my land I defend

Christian Europe I keep,

And my duty as soldier, the truth of my line;
But you, 't is for treason alone that you draw.

God beholds us. He watches the lists. Let him judge!
Traitor, die!

[Constantine leaps at his father. The swords cross for a moment in quick combat. Then Michael receives a stroke full in the breast and expires.]

MICHAEL. Ah!

CONSTANTINE. My God! What a deed!
MICHAEL [on the ground expiring].

Be cursed!

CONSTANTINE.

mounts high.

Parricide!

[He dies.

First the signal! The fire to the pile!

[He takes the torch and sets the signal blaze burning, which soon Then gradually one sees far along the mountainchain the other signals flashing out, and alarm-guns begin to be heard below.]

CONSTANTINE. O ye stars, eyes of God! Be the witnesses, ye! But before yonder corpse in the face of that flame,

I dare to look up and to show you my soul.

My father his country, his faith would betray.

I have killed him, O stars! Have I sinned? Ye shall say!

THE REPAYMENT.

"I ADORE my son. He reminds me of my poor Julia and of my happy time. He is eight years of age and I take great care of him. I took him to this party and he helped, with the other boys, to strip the fir-tree loaded with sweets and toys. I looked on, sipping my tea, feeling happy in his mirth. Although I am without religion, I could not help reflecting on the delights of Christian society, procured by this feast this children's feast in which the happiness of the young seemed to communicate innocence to the men of ripe age, or to old men who have more or less lost it. For the first time after many years since I began my feverish existence of a gambler and a rake, or my new life of very hard work I felt something sweet and yet bitter softening my heart.

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"At this moment my boy, my little Toto, tired of playing and laughing, came and sat on my knee and settled himself to sleep. I had prepared a fine surprise for him for the next morning. I said: 'Dear boy, don't forget, before going to bed, to put your shoes in the chimney.' He opened his eyes languidly, saying, 'Oh, no fear! Do you know, papa, what I should like little Christmas to bring me? Well, a box of leaden soldiers: you know, soldiers in red trousers, as I used to see them alive in the garden, where my nurse used to take me

me.

when I was very little- you know the big garden opposite the street, with the arcades, with statues and trees in green cases do you recollect? When I wore petticoats like a little girl, and my name was Toto Renaudel.' He fell asleep after that word. I felt dumfounded, and a sudden shiver passed through Thus Victor, scarcely four years of age at the time of our flight, remembered his childhood; he recollected the name I had dishonored. Ah! Abbé Moulin, I spent that night in meditation in watching by his bed. I then said to myself that I, the unpunished criminal, was enjoying a happiness of which I was not worthy, and that one day, no doubt, retribution would reach me through this child. I reflected that, as Victor had not forgotten his true name, the slightest chance would suffice to inform him that it was the name of an unpunished robber. This thought that my son would have to blush for my crimes that he would abhor me was an intolerable burden; then I swore to myself that I would restitute all that I had stolen, with compound interest, and get receipts. Victor may be told one day that his father was a thief. I shall then be able to answer: Yes, but I have restored all the money.' I may then be pardoned. I resolved to sell all that I possessed. Alas! the total was still very far from the amount of the debt. For the last year, I worked very hard, and to-day I can pay everybody. I have still in reserve some few thousand dollars. Yes, my dear son, I shall build up another fortune for you!"

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3086

MARIE CORELLI.

MACKAY, MINNIE [" Marie Corelli"], a popular English novelist, adopted daughter of Charles Mackay, the poet; born 1864. Among her works are: 66 A Romance of Two Worlds" (1886); "History of a Vendetta" (1886); "Thelma" (1887), a society novel; "Ardath," the story of a dead self; “Barabbas " (1893); “Jane” (1897); etc.

DEATH BY LIGHTNING.

(From "A Romance of Two Worlds.")

THE morning of the next day dawned rather gloomily. A yellowish fog obscured the air, and there was a closeness and sultriness in the atmosphere that was strange for that wintry season. I had slept well, and rose with the general sense of ease and refreshment that I had always experienced since I had been under the treatment of Heliobas. Those whose unhappy physical condition causes them to awake from uneasy slumber feeling almost more fatigued than when they retired to rest can scarcely have any idea of the happiness it engenders to open untired, glad eyes with the morning light; to feel the very air a nourishment; to stand with lithe, rested limbs in the bath of cool, pure water, finding that limpid element obediently adding its quota to the vigor of perfect health; to tingle from head to foot with the warm current of life running briskly through the veins, making the heart merry, the brain clear, and all the powers of body and mind in active working condition. This is indeed most absolute enjoyment. Add to it the knowledge of the existence of one's own inner Immortal Spirit-the beautiful germ of Light in the fostering of which no labor is ever taken in vainthe living, wondrous thing that is destined to watch an eternity of worlds bloom and fade to bloom again, like flowers, while itself, superior to them all, shall become ever more strong and radiant with these surroundings and prospects, who shall say life is not worth living?

Dear Life! sweet Moment! gracious Opportunity! brief Journey so well worth the taking; gentle Exile so well worth endur

ing!thy bitterest sorrows are but blessings in disguise thy sharpest pains are brought upon us by ourselves, and even then are turned to warnings for our guidance; while above us, through us, and around us radiates the Supreme Love, unalterably tender!

These thoughts, and others like them, all more or less conducive to cheerfulness, occupied me till I had finished dressing. Melancholy was now no part of my nature, otherwise I might have been depressed by the appearance of the weather and the murkiness of the air. But since I learned the simple secrets of physical electricity, atmospheric influences have had no effect upon the equable poise of my temperamenta fact for which I cannot be too grateful, seeing how many of my fellow-creatures permit themselves to be affected by changes in the wind, intense heat, intense cold, or other things of the like character.

I went down to breakfast, singing softly on my way, and I found Zara already seated at the head of her table, while Heliobas was occupied in reading and sorting a pile of letters that lay beside his plate. Both greeted me with their usual warmth and heartiness.

During the repast, however, the brother and sister were strangely silent, and once or twice I fancied that Zara's eyes filled with tears, though she smiled again so quickly and radiantly that I felt I was mistaken.

A piece of behavior on the part of Leo, too, filled me with dismay. He had been lying quietly at his master's feet for some time, when he suddenly arose, sat upright, and lifting his nose in air, uttered a most prolonged and desolate howl. Anything more thoroughly heartbroken and despairing than that cry I have never heard. After he had concluded it, the poor animal seemed ashamed of what he had done, and creeping meekly along, with drooping head and tail, he kissed his master's hand, then mine, and lastly Zara's. Finally, he went into a distant corner and lay down again, as if his feelings were altogether too much for him.

“Is he ill?” I asked pityingly.

"I think not," replied Heliobas. "The weather is peculiar to-day close, and almost thunderous; dogs are very susceptible to such changes."

At that moment the page entered bearing a silver salver on which lay a letter, which he handed to his master and immediately retired.

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