their
triumphant song,

"Unto Him that loved us,
To Him that washed us from our sins."

Now the keepers seized him rudely and led him to the stake, where they
bound him with strong chains so that escape was impossible.

"'I am now ready to be offered,'" murmured he, "'and the time of my
departure is at hand. . . . Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown
of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at
that day.'"

Now the torch was applied, and the flames rose up and dense volumes of
smoke concealed the martyr for a while from view. When it passed away he
was seen again standing amid the fire with upturned face and clasped hands.

The flames increased around him. Nearer and nearer they came, devouring
the fagots and enveloping him in a circle of fire. Now they threw over
him a black vail of smoke, again they dashed forward and licked him with
their forked tongues.

But the martyr stood erect, calm amid suffering, serene amid his
dreadful agony, by faith clinging to his Saviour. He was there though
they saw him not; his everlasting arm was round about his faithful
follower, and his Spirit inspired him.

Nearer grew the flames and yet nearer. Life, assailed more violently,
trembled in her citadel and the spirit prepared to wing its way to its
mansion of rest.

At last the sufferer gave a convulsive start, as though some sharper
pang flashed resistlessly through him. But he conquered his pain with a
violent effort. Then he raised his arms on high and feebly waved them.
Then, with a last effort of expiring nature, he cried out in a loud
voice "Victory!"

With the cry life seemed to depart, for he fell forward amid the rushing
flames, and the soul of Marcellus had ascended to the bosom of the Father.

CHAPTER XV.

LUCULLUS.

"The memory of the just is blessed."

At the scene of torture and of death there was one spectator whose face,
full of agony, was never turned away from Marcellus, whose eyes saw
every act and expression, whose ears drank in every word. Long after all
had departed he remained in the same place, the only human being in all
the vast extent of deserted seats. At length he rose to go.

The old elasticity of his step had departed. He moved with a slow and
feeble gait; his abstracted gaze and expression of pain made him look
like a man suddenly struck with disease. He motioned to some of the
keepers, who opened for him the gates that led to the aren