went through the Syrian wilderness back to Jerusalem.

Riding up to the door of Besso's house by Sion gate, he asked if there
were any news of Eva. A negro led him into a garden, and there, sitting
by the side of a fountain, was the lovely Jewish maiden.

"So Fakredeen brought you safely away, Eva," he said tenderly. "I was
afraid that Astarte meant to harm you."

"She would have killed me," said Eva, "if she could. I am afraid that
your faith in your idea of theocratic equality has been destroyed by the
Ansareys. How can you build up an empire in a land divided by so many
jarring creeds? Do you still believe in Arabia?"

"I believe in Arabia," cried Tancred, kneeling down at her feet,
"because I believe in you. You are the angel of Arabia, and the angel of
my life. You cannot guess what influence you have had on my fate. You
came into my life like another messenger from God. Thanks to you, my
faith has never faltered. Will you not share it, dearest?"

He clasped her hand, and gazed with passionate adoration into her face.
As her head fell upon his shoulder, the negro came running to the
fountain.

"The Duke of Bellamont!" he said to Tancred.

Tancred looked up, and saw the Duke of Bellamont coming through the
pomegranate trees of the garden.

"Father," he said, advancing towards the duke, "I have found my mission
in life, and I am going to marry this lady."

* * * * *

ALEXANDRE DUMAS

Marguerite de Valois

Alexandre Dumas, _pere_ (to distinguish him from his son of
the same name), early became known as a talented writer, and
especially as a poet and dramatist. His first published work
appeared in 1823; then came volumes of poems in 1825, 1826,
and the drama of "Henry III." in 1828. In "Marguerite de
Valois," published in 1845, the first of the "Valois" series
of historical romances, Dumas takes us back from the days of
Richelieu and the "Three Musketeers" to the preceding century
and the early struggles of Catholic and Huguenot. It was a
stirring time in France, full of horrors and bloodshed, plots
and intrigues, when Marguerite de Valois married Henry of
Navarre, and Alexandre Dumas gives us, in his wonderfully,
vivid and attractive style, a great picture of the French
court in the time of Charles IX. Little affection existed
between Henry and his bride, but strong ties of interest and