thank for getting us out of this trouble, temporarily at
least. But the affair has attracted enough notice so that there is sure
to be an inquiry to-morrow, and I for one will put the city of my birth
behind me before the dawn of day. The son of Salome and the nephew of
King Josiah will never again bring disgrace upon those he loves. To-night
I flee to parts unknown, and bitter indeed will be the punishment of
those of you who are apprehended for our offenses."

In the vicinity of the Temple stood a beautiful dwelling. From outward
appearances one would readily conclude that the inmates of that fair
abode were not common personages. Wealth and taste were shown on every
hand. To this house, in the heart of Jerusalem, came the young man who
had rendered himself so conspicuous in the quarrel with the guard. He
reached the place by a circuitous route and hastily entered. Although the
hour was late two Hebrew maidens of rare beauty awaited his coming. They
were in a state of anxious solicitude for the return of their erring
brother, whose conduct of late had been such as to cause the most intense
anxiety on the part of the pious household, for Ezrom belonged to the
nobility of Judah and was a blood relation of the reigning monarch.
Seeing his excited countenance, the sisters understood that something
unusual had befallen him, and the elder of the two sprang to his side.

"What calamity has occurred to you, my dear brother?" she cried.

"Be calm, sweet Serintha," he replied, "and I will tell you all."

He then informed his sisters that with his three friends he had been
guilty of taking up arms against the authorities--a crime punished with
great severity.

As Ezrom and his young men companions were connected with families of
high station in Jerusalem, even having royal blood in their veins, they
had the privilege of carrying weapons and were in the habit of going
armed with swords. This unfortunate custom had only served in the end to
get them into serious trouble, and Ezrom for one felt compelled to leave
home during the night.

These startling disclosures brought from both of his sisters a cry of
agony. They implored him to remain, promising to exert every influence to
save him from punishment.

Ezrom's mind was firmly made up, however, and he declared that he never
would face the impending exposure. He gathered together a few articles of
clothing while his sisters followed him from room to room with painful
sobs.