affection. Zarah had spoken of the
possibility of his yet giving joy to the lofty-souled mother whom
Pollux, in the midst of his guilt, had not ceased to reverence and
love. For many years the apostate had tried to drive from his mind all
thought of Hadassah; now her image came vividly before him, not in the
attitude of uttering a malediction, but as holding out her arms to
receive back her prodigal son.

While Pollux was deliberating, and Zarah praying, Lysimachus was
carousing amidst boon companions in the city. The ruin and approaching
execution of his rival gave unwonted zest to the revels of the
profligate Syrian.

"Here's to our friend the magnificent Pollux!" exclaimed Lysimachus,
raising on high a huge goblet of wine. "He is going on a long journey
to-morrow; here's to his quick passage over Styx, and welcome at the
shadowy court of King Pluto!"

And those who listened were not ashamed to laugh at the jest, or to
drink the toast, though they had mixed in familiar intercourse with
Pollux, flattered and followed him, when he had basked in the sunshine
of royal favour. One of the guests was calculating how he should now
get possession of some coveted gem which he had seen sparkling on the
girdle of the man to whom he had once sworn unalterable friendship;
another fixed on the Arab steed of the ruined courtier as his share of
the spoils. There was not one of the sycophants met together at that
night-revel who had a word of warning or a thought of pity to give to
him who had been the most admired, envied, and flattered of all the
nobles who composed the brilliant court of Antiochus Epiphanes!

Stars were paling, the night was waning, the door of safety was slowly,
imperceptibly closing--soon, soon the decision of Pollux, if made,
would be made too late! When once the course of duty is clear to the
mind, perilous is every minute of delay: while we hesitate, the enemy
steals on; while we doubt, we may find ourselves under his fangs!

"Zarah shall decide for me!" exclaimed the unhappy waverer at last.
"If I find her resolution immovable, come what may, I will give my
child one chance of escape from the horrible fate with which she is
threatened."

In a few minutes, pale and haggard from his contending emotions, Pollux
re-entered the apartment in which he had left his daughter.

"Zarah!" he cried, in a hollow tone, as he grasped the maiden by the
wrist, and scanned her countenance with an almost despairing