111
XXIII. THE CHARMED WINE 120
XXIV. THE MINSTREL 125
XXV. THE SACRED HOUNDS 131
XXVI. ON THE VERGE 135
XXVII. ONE FOR ANOTHER 145
XXVIII. SPIRITS OF THE DEEP 153
XXIX. MYRTLE AND OLEANDER 162
XXX. BY THE RIVER CAYSTER 165
XXXI. THE DOOMED CITY 171
XXXII. ENDORA 175
XXXIII. NIKA 180
XXXIV. THE HOROSCOPE 184
XXXV. THE VIRGIN CAVE 191
XXXVI. REVERIE 195
XXXVII. THE MESSAGE 199
XXXVIII. THE DEAD PRIEST 204
XXXIX. CONSTERNATION 209
XL. TWO MASTER MINDS 212
XLI. DAYBREAK 221
XLII. VARRO 227
XLIII. MYSTERY 231
XLIV. ACRATUS, THE TEMPLE SPOILER 235
XLV. REVELATION 238
XLVI. THE CROWN OF LIFE 249
XLVII. PARTING 253

SARONIA

CHAPTER I

THE AGORA

The sun had risen in all its splendour, and was flooding the bay and
mountains with silvery light. The river Cayster moved on its course, and
mixed its waters with the blue of the AEgean Sea, and washed the shores
of Samos, appearing like a purple vision on the ocean. Boats and ships
of quaint form and gorgeous colouring, propelled by a gentle breeze,
moved to and fro, and glided up the shining way which led to the great
city of Ephesus, the chief of Ionia, and the home of the goddess. Not
far away was shining like a brilliant star the marble pillars of the
Temple of Diana. Ephesus was now fully awake, and the people were moving
along its streets, some wending their way to the temples to offer their
morning devotions, others hastening to the great theatre, and many more
directing their course towards their daily toil; for men must work, even
within the precincts of a city where all is splendour. The c