truck thee, nor yet for penitence in the matter of
my daughter. Such things afflict not thus the mind of youth. Come,
tell me what it is! Open thy heart. Who knows but, in Allah's mercy,
I may be of help to thee?"

Iskender lifted his eyes for one swift glance at his would-be consoler,
then hid them once more in his hands. The expression of the priest's
strong face commanded confidence, and he felt the need of a friend.
After a second's hesitation, he confessed all: how he had deceived the
Emir at first as to his worldly station, how that deception had given
the missionaries power to set his lord against him, and then how Elias,
by unheard of perfidy, with diabolical arts, had taken possession of
the Emir, and prevented Iskender's obtaining the private audience which
would have put things right.

The priest heard him to the end, then eyed him curiously.

"Allah is merciful!" he observed. "See what it is to be an infidel.
Had this happened to me I should simply have turned away with a shrug
and 'Praise to Allah.' But this youth has been taught to put his trust
in worldly things, and when these fail, as fail they always do, he
comes near to kill himself."

"I am no longer a Brutestant!" rejoined Iskender vehemently. "Allah
knows I hate the race of them! But I have not yet told thee all my
cause of grief--all the perfidy of the fiend Elias. It was bad enough
when I supposed him poor like me. Now it seems he is the owner of an
orange-garden. I knew it not until this morning. He has taken my Emir
away to feast there in the shade. How can I ever compete with a rich
landowner?"

"I ask pardon of Allah! An orange-garden? Elias own an orange-garden?
Never, in this low world! Now whither has he led the good khawajah?"
Mitri laid a finger between his eyebrows, and thought deeply. Anon his
face brightened. "If I give thee thy revenge upon Elias," he demanded,
"wilt thou swear by the Incarnation to forsake the errors of the
Brutestants, and come to me henceforth for instruction in the way of
right?"

"I have done already with the Brutestants," replied Iskender, all alert
in an instant at the suggestion of a bargain; "but as to joining the
Orthodox, my mind is not yet clear."

"By the help of Allah, I will clear it for thee. Come and reason with
me; that is all I ask. Swear to do this or I will not help thee."

Iskender swore with secret alacrity, having the girl Nesibeh in his
mind's eye.

"That is w