The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

There never was a shadow of proof of their complicity in the insurrection of the past . In truth they have always supported legitimate authority , and discountenanced A'ice and everything that tended to destroy the state . Ask my cousin ,

Adrian , else . He has travelled far , studied all philosophies , and perhaps of any man in Rome can best give an opinion . Believe me , sire , it will but bring dishonour on your reign to persecute men of talent . "

" ATe ivill hear thee at further length some other time , and likeivise thy cousin , Adrian . Jove knows ive wish to deal honestly Avith all men , if they will deal honestly with us , but those Avho begin by denying the gods , will end in denying all

power , and transform the Avorld into an impure and loathly Avilderness . " " However much the Christians and Bacchanals

be to blame , trust me , the Stoics are honest men . " "Art thou a Stoic , Caius ? " asked Trajan suspiciously . " Would to Jove I Avere . If they Avould accept

me I would join them this very day . " "What , in spite of my vengeance against them ?" "Yes , " said Caius , boldly , "because then I would ask the leaders to come before you , and request you to join their ranks . ATould not that be sufficient ? "

" You have a shrewd wit , Caius . ATe will consider further on the matter . Meairwhile the daring of these Christians must be tamed , they must be exterminated from the earth , and their doctrines scattered to the Avinds . See you to that ,

Cassius . Offer rewards for every Christian ' s head ; death to every harbourer . ATe will have games soon in the Colisseum , pick us up a few of 'these Christians to feed the lions . As for these Bacchanals , Clodio , be they your care . Do not

proceed to over hard measures Avith them . So far as we can hear several of the noblest Romans have so far forgot -themselves as to join iu these unhalloAved rites . " " And these Stoics ? " asked Cassius , " may Ave not seize them when Ave can do so

conveniently . " " No . Three bodies to be hunted clown at once is over much . First the Christians , then tho meaner herd of Bacchanals , they shall die to terrify the rest , the Stoics must still have a breathing space . If they be not the guilty men they are

The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

represented , it Avould be infamous to punish them . " " They are accused of crimes , " said Balbus . "This is the reign of Trajan / ' answered the Emperor , sternly , " not of Domitian . No

Amlenus Rusticus nor Herenuius Senecis shall perish now . To your several duties . Caius stay with ns ?" AThen the others had departed , Trajan turned Avith a smiling countenance to Gains , saying : " Cassius , will not thank thee for thine interference in these affairs . "

" Cassius is over bloodthirsty , the fumes of oxens gore have depraved his character—his eyes seem to have reddened since he became High Priest . " " Thou art right , he loves the shedding of blood too ivell . Had he been Avith us in the Dacian

war , think you he would have beeu as fond of it ?" " Doubtless , if he had been at a distance from the battle . Brave men are not butchers , and I have seen a valiant captain who in the fury of

battle had hacked a lane through the thicket of enemy , turn pale at a scratched finger . " " ATe must keep both priests , and philosophers in check . Caius . The Emperor shall alone be master . " ( To be continued . )

The South Metropolitan Masonic Hall, Company Limited.

THE SOUTH METROPOLITAN MASONIC HALL , COMPANY LIMITED .

An adjourned mooting ot the brethren interested in tho promotion of this undertaking , was held on Sunday evening last at tho Horns Tavern , Keimiugton Gate , to receive a report from tho Directors with reference to tho sito for the proposed hall ; Bro . JNJ AA " . Hodges was unanimously called to tho chair . Bro . EDWARD AVOHTIH . VOTO . V , tho Hon . Soe . of tho Company , road tho minutes of the last mooting , which were confirmed . The CIIAMMA >* said , botoro ho called upon the secretary to road thank tho

tho report received from tho directors , ho desired to members for the honour thoy had conferred on him in asking him to take the chair on that occasion . Ho looked upon it as a compliment to tho lodgo over which ho presided , rather than to his own individual merits . It would ho unnecessary for him to outer into anv explanation with respect to the objects for which they were met together , as thoy were all aware that it was to receive tho report of tho directors as to tho sito which had boon

selected for the proposed JIasonie Hall for tho south metropolitan districts . Ho would therefore content himself with asking the secretary to read tho report . Bro . AVonnriNGTO-V then read tho following report : — "In pursuance of tho resolution passed at the meeting hold at tho Horns on Friday , 2-J-th October , the directors beg to report that thoy havo advertised and caused enquiries to bo made for in-Masonic

formation as to a sito for tho contemplated erection of a . Hall for tho south metropolitan districts , but thoy havo only been able to hoar of two plots of building land at all likely to suit tho purpose for which thoy woro required , ono of which is situated iu the Camhorivoli Now Road , and tho other adjoining tho London and Oouutv Bank , Nowington Butts ; and , considering the very central position of tho latter , and that it is easily accessible both by omnibus and rail , tho directors aro of opinion that it is greatly to ho preferred , and strongly rocommondod it to tho