s on his head.

He sprang up to grasp them, but caught only air.

"Ramses!" was whispered from above.

He raised his head, and felt on his lips a lotus flower; and when he
stretched his hands to it some one leaned on his arm lightly.

"Ramses!" called a voice from the altar.

The prince turned and was astounded. In the streak of light, a couple
of steps distant, stood a most beautiful man, absolutely like the heir
to the throne of Egypt. The same face, eyes, youthful stature, the same
posture, movements, and dress.

The prince thought for a while that he was before some great mirror,
such a mirror as even the pharaoh could not have. But soon he convinced
himself that his second was a living man, not a picture.

At that moment he felt a kiss on his neck. Again he turned, but there
was no one; meanwhile his second self vanished.

"Who is here? I wish to know!" cried the angry prince.

"It is I 'Kama," answered a sweet voice.

And in the strip of light appeared a most beautiful woman, naked, with
a golden girdle around her waist.

Ramses ran up and seized her by the hands. She did not flee.

"Art Thou Kama? No, Thou art Yes, Dagon sent thee on a time, but then
Thou didst call thyself Fondling."

"But I am Fondling, too," replied she, naively.

"Is it Thou who hast touched me with thy hands?"

UJ

"How?"

"Ao! in this way," answered she, throwing her arms around his neck, and
kissing him.

Ramses seized her in his arms, but she tore herself free with a force
which no one could have suspected in such a slight figure.

"Art Thou then the priestess Kama? Was it to thee that that Greek sang
to-night?" asked the prince, pressing her hands passionately. "What
sort of man is that singer?"

Kama shrugged her shoulders contemptuously.

"He is attached to our temple," was the answer.

Ramses' eyes flamed, his nostrils dilated, there was a roaring in his
head. That same woman a few months before had made on him only a slight
impression; but today he was ready to commit some mad deed because of
her. He envied the Greek, and felt also indescribable sorrow at the
thought that if she became his she must perish.

"How beautiful Thou art," said he. "Where dost Thou dwell? Ah, I know;
in that villa. Is it possible to visit thee? Of course it is. If Thou
receive singers, Thou must receive me. Art Thou really the priestess
guarding the fire of this temple?"

"I am."

"And are the laws so severe that they do not