itter--to bear the dead,'
said Arbaces: 'a priest of Isis ought scarcely to be carried to his
temple by vulgar hands, like a butchered gladiator.'

At this the bystanders reverently laid the corpse of Apaecides on the
ground, with the face upwards; and some of them went in search of some
contrivance to bear the body, untouched by the profane.

It was just at that time that the crowd gave way to right and left as a
sturdy form forced itself through, and Olinthus the Christian stood
immediately confronting the Egyptian. But his eyes, at first, only
rested with inexpressible grief and horror on that gory side and
upturned face, on which the agony of violent death yet lingered.

'Murdered!' he said. 'Is it thy zeal that has brought thee to this?
Have they detected thy noble purpose, and by death prevented their own
shame?'

He turned his head abruptly, and his eyes fell full on the solemn
features of the Egyptian.

As he looked, you might see in his face, and even the slight shiver of
his frame, the repugnance and aversion which the Christian felt for one
whom he knew to be so dangerous and so criminal. It was indeed the gaze
of the bird upon the basilisk--so silent was it and so prolonged. But
shaking off the sudden chill that had crept over him, Olinthus extended
his right arm towards Arbaces, and said, in a deep and loud voice:

'Murder hath been done upon this corpse! Where is the murderer? Stand
forth, Egyptian! For, as the Lord liveth, I believe thou art the man!'

An anxious and perturbed change might for one moment be detected on the
dusky features of Arbaces; but it gave way to the frowning expression of
indignation and scorn, as, awed and arrested by the suddenness and
vehemence of the charge, the spectators pressed nearer and nearer upon
the two more prominent actors.

'I know,' said Arbaces, proudly, 'who is my accuser, and I guess
wherefore he thus arraigns me. Men and citizens, know this man for the
most bitter of the Nazarenes, if that or Christians be their proper
name! What marvel that in his malignity he dares accuse even an
Egyptian of the murder of a priest of Egypt!'

'I know him! I know the dog!' shouted several voices. 'It is Olinthus
the Christian--or rather the Atheist--he denies the gods!'

'Peace, brethren,' said Olinthus, with dignity, 'and hear me! This
murdered priest of Isis before his death embraced the Christian
faith--he revealed to me the dark sins, the sorceries of y