y will. Will you break that oath
to-day?"

"I swore also, Miriam, that it should go ill with any man who came
between you and me. Shall I break that oath to-day? Give yourself to
me of your own will and save Marcus. Refuse and I will bring him to his
death. Choose now between me and your lover's life."

"Are you a coward that you should lay such a choice upon me, Caleb?"

"Call me what you will. Choose."

Miriam clasped her hands and for a moment stood looking upwards. Then a
light of purpose grew upon her face and she answered:

"Caleb, I have chosen. Do your worst. The fate of Marcus is not in my
hands, or your hands, but in the hands of God; nor, unless He wills it,
can one hair of his head be harmed by you or by Domitian. For is it not
written in the book of your own Law that 'the King's heart is in the
hand of the Lord, he turneth it whithersoever he will.' But my honour is
my own, and to stain it would be a sin for which I alone must answer to
Heaven and to Marcus, dead or living--Marcus, who would curse and spit
upon me did I attempt to buy his safety at such a price."

"Is that your last word, Miriam?"

"It is. If it pleases you by false witness and by murder to destroy the
man who once spared you, then if such a thing be suffered, have your
will and reap its fruits. I make no bargain with you, for myself or for
him--do your worst to both of us."

"So be it," said Caleb with a bitter laugh, "but I think that the ship
_Luna_ will lack her fairest passenger."

Miriam sank down upon a seat and covered her face with her hands, a
piteous sight in her misery and the terror which, notwithstanding her
bold words, she could not conceal. Caleb walked to the door and paused
there, while the white-haired Nehushta stood by the brazier of charcoal
and watched them both with her fierce eyes. Presently Caleb glanced
round at Miriam crouched by the window and a strange new look came into
his face.

"I cannot do it," he said slowly, each word falling heavily from his
lips like single rain-drops from a cloud, or the slow blood from a
mortal wound.

Miriam let her hands slip from her face and stared at him.

"Miriam," he said, "you are right; I have sinned against you and this
man Marcus. Now I will expiate my sin. Your secret is safe with me, and
since you hate me I will never see you more. Miriam, we look upon
each other for the last time. Further, if I can, I will work for the
deliverance of Marcus and help him to