re
in love with him, and I incline to believe you; but, on the other hand,
I remember that you would naturally say this, since you might think that
any other answer would prejudice the cause of Caleb with me."

"With you! What can it matter to you, sir, whether or no I am in love
with Caleb, who, to tell you the truth, frightens me?"

"And that, I suppose, is why you plead so hard for him?"

"No," she answered with a sudden sternness, "I plead hard for him as in
like case I would plead hard for you--because he has been my friend, and
if he did this deed he was provoked to it."

"Well spoken," said Marcus, gazing at her steadily. Indeed, she was
worth looking at as she stood there before him, her hands clasped, her
breast heaving, her sweet, pale face flushed with emotion and her lovely
eyes aswim with tears. Of a sudden as he gazed Marcus lost control of
himself. Passion for this maiden and bitter jealousy of Caleb arose like
twin giants in his heart and possessed him.

"You say you are not in love with Caleb," he said. "Well, kiss me and I
will believe you."

"How could such a thing prove my words?" she asked indignantly.

"I do not know and I do not care. Kiss me once and I will believe
further that the peasants of these parts are all liars. I feel myself
beginning to believe it."

"And if I will not?"

"Then I am afraid I must refer the matter to a competent tribunal at
Jerusalem."

"Nehushta, Nehushta, you have heard. What shall I do?"

"What shall you do?" said Nehushta drily. "Well, if you like to give the
noble Marcus a kiss, I shall not blame you overmuch or tell on you. But
if you do not wish it, then I think you would be a fool to put yourself
to shame to save Caleb."

"Yet, I will do it--and to save Caleb only," said Miriam with a sob, and
she bent towards him.

To her surprise Marcus drew back, placing his hand before his face.

"Forgive me," he said. "I was a brute who wished to buy kisses in such
a fashion. I forgot myself; your beauty is to blame, and your sweetness
and everything that is yours. I pray," he added humbly, "that you will
not think the worse of me, since we men are frail at times. And now,
because you ask me, though I have no right, I grant your prayer. Mayhap
those witnesses lied; at least, the man's sin, if sin there be, can be
excused. He has naught to fear from me."

"No," broke in Nehushta, "but I think you have much to fear from him;
and I am sorry for that, my lord