e
loved ashes within their final resting-place; he, whose eyes took the
last look at the dear remains; and he whose hands lifted to its place
the slab whereon the name and the epitaph of Marcellus was engraven.

Lucullus went to his home, but he was a changed man. The gayety of his
nature seemed to have been driven out by the severe afflictions that he
had endured. He had rightly said that he would not become a Christian.
The death of his friend had filled him with sadness, but there was no
sorrow for sin, no repentance, no desire for a knowledge of God. He had
lost the power of taking pleasure in the world, but had gained no other
source of happiness.

Yet the memory of his friend produced one effect on him. He felt a
sympathy for the poor and oppressed people with whom Marcellus had
associated. He admired their constancy and pitied their unmerited
sufferings. He saw that all the virtue and goodness left in Rome were in
the possession of these poor outcasts.

These feelings led him to give them his assistance. He transferred to
them the friendship and the promise of aid which he had once given to
Marcellus. His soldiers arrested no more, or if they did arrest any they
were sure to escape in some way. His high position, vast wealth, and
boundless influence, were all at the service of the Christians. His
palace was well known to them as their surest place of refuge or
assistance, and his name was honored as that of their most powerful
human friend.

But all things have an end; and so the constant sufferings of the
Christians and the friendship of Lucullus at length were brought to a
termination. In about a year after the death of Marcellus the stern
emperor Decius was overthrown, and a new ruler entered into the imperial
power. The persecution was stayed. Peace returned to the Church, and the
Christians came forth from the Catacombs again to dwell within the glad
light of day, again to sound in the ears of men the praises of Him who
had redeemed them, and again to carry on their never-ending contest with
the hosts of evil.

Years passed on, but no change came to Lucullus. When Honorius came from
the Catacombs he was taken by Lucullus to his own palace, and maintained
there for the rest of his life. He sought to repay his debt of gratitude
to his noble benefactor by making him acquainted with the truth, but he
died without seeing his desires gratified.

The blessing came at last, but not till years had passed away.