r your courage, Lucien. My predecessor was
shot in cold blood by a man who for the murder was only transported. If
he had slain the poorest Turk, or even a Moor, he would have been
strangled. We are a despised as well as persecuted race, and our
influence or power to protect you is very small. Indeed, if it were
known that I had given you shelter, my life would be forfeited, as well
as yours. I have already placed it in great jeopardy in order to save
Mariano--"

"Mariano!" exclaimed Francisco, turning an anxious gaze on the Jew; "is
he, then, in danger?"

"He is captured by the Turks," replied Bacri, "and is now in the
Bagnio."

"Where they will doubtless bastinado him to death," said Francisco,
grinding his teeth and clenching his hands with suppressed passion.
"Bacri, I feel that in me which makes me long to run a-muck among these
Turks."

"I understand you not," said Bacri.

"Why, I will take the first opportunity that offers to cut the throats
of as many of these fiends as possible before they manage to cut mine.
They say that vengeance is sweet. I will taste it and try," said the
merchant, with a grim smile.

"`Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord,'" returned Bacri
slowly; "says not your own Scripture so?"

"It may be so, but man's power of endurance is limited," retorted
Francisco gloomily.

"But God's power to aid and strengthen is _not_ limited," returned the
Jew. "Believe me, no good ever came of violence--at least from
revengeful violence. No doubt a violent assault at the right time and
with a right motive has often carried the day; but violence given way to
for the mere purpose of gratifying the feelings is not only useless, it
is hurtful and childish."

"Hast never given way to such thyself, Bacri?" demanded Francisco with
some asperity.

"I have," replied the Jew with humility, "and it is because I have done
so that I am enabled to speak with some authority as to the results.
Your desire, I suppose, is to save Mariano. If you would attain that
end, you must learn to curb your passions and use the powers of judgment
with which your Maker has endowed you."

"Well, well, we will let that point hang on its peg in the meantime,"
returned Francisco impatiently; "but what wouldst thou advise? we are at
your mercy."

"I will do what I can to prove that a Jew is not ungrateful," answered
Bacri. "If they leave us unmolested here till night-fall we may find a
way of escape for