inquired.

Manetho laid his long brown hand on Balder's arm.

"If she be not Gnulemah, daughter of fire, it must rest with you to
give her another name," said he.

"I care not who was her father or her mother," rejoined the lover,
after a short silence; "Gnulemah is herself!"

The lithe fingers on his arm clutched it hard for a moment, and
Manetho averted his face. When he turned again, his features seemed to
express exultation, mingled with a sinister flavor of some darker
emotion.

"Son of Thor, you have your father's frankness. Do you love her?"

"You saw that I loved her," returned Balder, his black eyes kindling
somewhat intolerantly.

"If I can hasten by one hour the consummation of that love, my life
will have been worth the living!"

"That's kindly spoken!" exclaimed Helwyse, heartily; and, opening his
strong white hand, he took the narrow brown one into its grasp. He had
not been prepared for so friendly a profession.

"When I have seen your soul tied to hers in a knot that even death may
not loosen,--and if it be permitted me to tie the knot, I shall have
drained the cup of earthly happiness!" He spoke with a deliberate
intensity not altogether pleasant to the ear. He would not relinquish
Balder's hand, as he continued in his high-strung vein,--

"I know at last for whom my flower has bloomed. Through the world,
across seas, by strange accidents has Providence brought you safe to
this spot; and has made you what you are, and her incomparable among
women.--You love her with heart and soul, Balder Helwyse?"

"So that the world seems frail; and I--except for my
love--insignificant!"

In the sudden emphasis of his question, Manetho had risen to his
feet; and Balder likewise had started up, before giving his reply. As
he spoke the words strongly forth, his swarthy companion seemed to
catch them in the air, and breathe them in. Slowly an expression of
joy, that could hardly be called a smile, welled forth from his long
eyes, and forced its way, with dark persistency of glee, through all
his face.

"By you only in the world would I have her loved!" he said; and
repeated it more than once.

He remained a full minute leaning with one arm on the altar, his eyes
abstracted. Then he said abruptly,--

"Why not be married soon?"

The lover looked up questioningly, a deep throb in his heart.

"Soon--soon!" reiterated Manetho. "Love is a thing of moments more
than of years. I know it! Do you stand idle