sed his kindness. "No, Allah be my witness, I will accept nothing
from thee--neither thanks nor anything else, save thy conversion. Hast
come to seek instruction in accordance with thy promise? Alas! I
cannot bid thee enter, for my wife and children are abed; the hour is
late. What ails thee that thou tremblest? Art afraid of the powers of
darkness, poor Brutestant without a saint to guard thee? Wait, I will
take my staff and bear thee company.

"By Allah, thou hast every cause to fear," he continued, stepping forth
beside Iskender. "Thy errors give the devils power to harm thee. The
Franks are not afraid; for in each one of them there sits a devil far
more powerful than those outside. But thou, poor innocent dupe, are
left defenceless. Surely the falsehood of their teaching must be
evident to a youth of thy intelligence?"

"Nay, O my father, though my soul abhors them, I still discern much
good in their beliefs." Iskender, freed from fear, could argue
lightly. That morning, when he gave his word to Mitri, he had felt
alone and helpless. Now, in repossession of his Emir, with boundless
wealth in prospect, the question of his change of faith seemed
unimportant. That the Orthodox creed was the way of salvation, he had
no doubt; his mother had always said so; but there seemed plenty of
time in which to save his soul. He added: "How can their faith be
false, seeing it is founded on the Holy Scriptures?"

"They quote the Scriptures, it is true," retorted Mitri, "but without
rule or guidance, each in the pride of his own understanding--the
devils do the same!--so that no two Brutestants believe alike. They
reject all those sacred traditions which lead back to Christ. Their
only union is in hatred of the Church. They exist for themselves
alone, to the hurt of others, just like stinging insects. And Allah
alone knows why they were ever created, unless it be as a kind of
hornet to molest the faithful. Consider, O my dear, how transient this
life is; its prosperity departs with the breath. Think on the anguish
of those who, attracted by the wealth and luxury of these missionaries,
forsake the truth of God, when they stand before His Throne of Judgment
at the Last Day!"

Iskender listened, but was unimpressed. His mind had wandered back to
the events of the day; and at that moment Wady 'l Muluk was more
apparent to his mind than the Last Judgment. He murmured:

"I will ponder what thou sayest."

"Aga