THE SCOURGE OF DAMA SCUS.

CHAPTER L ULIX Damascus! One of the oldest cities of the earth, and ose of the most beautiful the seat of power, and the store-house of vast wealth-one of the gar- dens of the world, where prince and peasant alilke shared the luxury of fruit and Hower, and where art vied with nature in grand and pleasurable adorn- ments. The Damascus of ages long since passed away Horam the Childless was King of Damascus He had passed the age of three-score. His hair and beard were white, and his once stalwart frame was bent and weak. But not age alone had best the form of Horam. Trouble had touched him heavily; and to drown his trouble he had resorted to dissi- pation, Oace noble and generous, he had now become irritable and unjust, and oftentimes cruel. Bowed and bent, in the evening of life, sat Horam