res Shidiak._

24. Phares Shidiak came to my house to day, and wished to speak with me
in private.

"Yesterday morning," said he, "as I was in my room reading the New
Testament, my brother Mansoor entered, drew a sword he had, and gave me
a blow upon the neck. I continued with the book in my hand, until one
snatched it from me. Mansoor afterwards drew up his musket, threatening
to shoot me; but my mother interfered to prevent him. My brother Tannoos
hearing a bustle, came in with a cane, and began cudgelling me, without
stopping to inquire at all into the merits of the case, calling out,
'Will you leave off your heresy, and go to church like other people, or
not?' Mansoor not finding Asaad present, as he seemed to have expected,
went to Asaad's chest which stood near me, seized all the books he had
received of you, Hebrew, Syriac, Italian, and Arabic, tore them, one by
one, in pieces, and strewed them on the floor.

"In the course of the day, I came down near where the soldiers of the
emir are encamped, and passed the night in company with my brother
Galeb. This morning _he_ returned, with a line from me to Asaad, and _I_
came off to Beyroot, with the full determination never to go home
again. And now I will either go to some place in this country where I
can enjoy my liberty or I will take ship, and leave the country
altogether."

As he wished my advice, I counselled him neither to go from the country,
nor from his home, but to return, and at least make a further trial of
doing good to his relatives, and bearing their persecutions. He,
however, continued inflexible.

In the space of a few hours, Galeb came in search of Phares, with a
letter from Asaad, of which the following is a copy.

_Asaad's letter to his brother Phares._

"To my beloved brother Phares; the Lord Most High preserve him. Your
departure caused me great grief. _First_, because you were impatient
when trial and persecution came upon you. It is a thing we are regularly
to expect, that if we hope in God in this world, we shall give universal
offence. But we have another city, for which we hope. Do not lose your
courage, for you have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Remember, we cannot share in the glory of Christ, if we share not also
in his sufferings. Therefore, rejoice whenever you are tried; rejoice,
and never be sad; for our faith is sure.

"_Secondly_, I was grieved because you gave me no information where you
were goin