suming a desperate firmness-"I will do all you wish. Yes, bring me to the calif, and you will wonder to hear with what effrontery I will own such baseness of myself. By this I shall redeem my errors-shall I not?"

"Thou wilt do more than this," said Giafar, pressing her compassionately to his bosom. "Thou wilt load me with a debt of gratitude that I can never repay. And bear in mind, Khatoun, this evil is but for a time. If I escape the fate that now hangs suspended over my head, fear not but that this stain upon thine honour shall be all wiped away; and if I perish, my latest breath shall avow thine innocence. All the world shall yet praise thee for the generous deed. There is a gay life before thee, and, believe me, thou wilt not the less enjoy its blessings, for that thou hast served, even with more than life, an unworthy master."

A melancholy smile played upon her features as she listened to this vain encouragement of the prince, and she replied,

"All this is nothing to me. Talk not of honour and the world's esteem; they have but little value in mine eyes. Think you it is for these I hesitate? Ah no! a secret shrinking, a dread repugnance to own a crime of which I cannot think but with a chill of horror-'tis this that is so hard to overcome. But I have resolved-for thee I have resolved to do even this. I would fain imagine, standing, as I think I do, upon the borders of the grave, that it is for justice, for mercy, for the sake

of thine innocent, thine unoffending wife, that I make this fearful sacrifice. But 'tis in vain. I cannot thus deceive myself. No, it is love that prompts me. Let me, for the last time, avow it; and here, in the view of all the evils I have brought upon thee, for ever I renounce it. Remorse and penitence alone remain. Yet I have one request, my lord; the princess-she must not think this of me. Spare me that degradation. Let her not believe that one whom you have loved could ever fall so low."

"She shall know all, Khatoun. She is as generous and gentle as thyself, and thou wilt for ever gain her esteem and her affection."

"May I not see her? May I not be with her for the few mournful days that remain to me? No one will smile upon me now. My companions will all shun me-yes, some that once loved me well. Where should I turn? As well dwell here alone, in this prison, as wander deserted and solitary through the harem, all scorning me as I pass. I shall not bring reproach upon her in the solitude of her chamber. I will attend her and be her slave."

Giafar hesitated ere he replied. With the attachment which the young girl still manifested towards him, he felt that it would be far more conducive to her peace if she were separated from his society. He feared, too, that her heart would be often pained to witness the warm love which he bore to Abassa, a feeling which would be fre

quently displayed in kind looks and words, and the many endearing offices which declare its existence as well as minister to its life. She quickly divined the cause of his delay, and said,

"Wherefore dost thou hesitate, my lord? Fear not but I shall be faithful. Doubt not my constancy of temper. What is there left on earth for one like me but to serve, while I yet live, those that I love to rejoice in their happiness and to weep over their sorrows. I think of nothing beyond this now-save it be the grave."

"It shall be so," replied the prince. "Thou shalt be with her, Khatoun, and ever share her fortune."

After bidding her a kind farewell, Giafar departed.

"Am I steeled to sorrow?" he exclaimed, as soon as he had left her presence. "Do not mine eyes weep? Or is it triumph and hope that bear me thus up? No!-a tear!-Allah be praised! this heart is not of stone. How have I wronged this faithful girl. To what a trial have I urged her. She will do it, and all through love for me -her cruel master-it may be, her destroyer. Were it but my own life, how gladly would I yield it up to spare her this anguish. But my wife-my innocent wife-perhaps my whole house-Heaven shield them! I will no longer dwell upon it. She shall be well repaid for all her sufferings. There is yet light around me," he continued. "All is, I think, secured. Upon the morrow I will seek my

master, and banish all his doubts. Deep guile must be upon my tongue. I must frame my lips to falsehood, and coin a tale smooth as the one which the first serpent whispered to our erring mother. 'Tis a vile part to act, yet will not want some merit if borne with courage and with skill. Even ill is not all ill, if well and bravely done. My stern master has watched, most like with cruel pleasure, the care which has concealed the death of Hassan, waiting like the ambushed tiger to grasp his prey. But to the craft, he has not joined the patience of that fierce beast. He could not wait until the victim was within his reach, as soon it must have been, certainly, and without hope. Too eager in his vengeance, he has left the covert, and leaped to meet his victim. Now that I watch the spring, I may perchance avoid it. He himself has warned me, and I will not slight his words. Heaven arm me with courage, and pardon all my falsehood! I struggle for a rich prize."

CHAPTER VII.

He knew his crime deserved a punishment,
And yet his eye sank not before the fiery glance
That threatening, rested on him-his cheek
Blanch'd not-no quivering muscle told
That fear was at his heart-calmly he stood,
As hearing rather some soft tale of love,
Than vows of vengeance, deadly, stern, and dire.

Play of the Assassin.

RUMOURS are current throughout Bagdad, which, if well founded, must implicate the safety of one of the most important personages in the kingdom. It often chances that he, whose happiness is most nearly concerned in such secret and spreading whisperings, is the last to hear of their existence. Friends are, it may be, ignorant as himself, or hesitate to become the heralds of ill fortune to one they love. He walks in blindness even to the verge of the precipice, and perishes, perhaps, for lack of that knowledge which, if timely, might have turned him from the danger.

Thus was it with Giafar, when on the day succeeding the one on which he had held the interview with Khatoun, he bent his steps towards the royal palace. The purpose of his visit to the calif was to remove the jealousy which he knew his