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CHAPTER VIII.
  WITH PRIMITIUS, THE PRESBYTER 75 CHAPTER IX.
  A DIFFICULT QUEST 86 CHAPTER X.
  A WICKED PLOT 92 CHAPTER XI
  THE SLAVE MARKET 97 CHAPTER XII.
  THE LOST FOUND 105 CHAPTER XIII.
  FATHER AND DAUGHTER 111 CHAPTER XIV.
  "UNSTABLE AS WATER" 117 CHAPTER XV.
  AT THE BATHS 124 CHAPTER XVI.
  THE GAMING TABLE 129 CHAPTER XVII.
  "IN PERICULIS TUTUS" 135 CHAPTER XVIII
  THE MIDNIGHT PLOT 142 CHAPTER XIX
  IN THE TOILS OF THE TEMPTER 148 CHAPTER XX
  THE PLOT THICKENS 153 CHAPTER XXI.
  A CRIME PREVENTED 161 CHAPTER XXII.
  THE STORM BURSTS 168 CHAPTER XXIII.
  THE MAMERTINE PRISON 177 CHAPTER XXIV.
  THE EVE OF MARTYRDOM 184 CHAPTER XXV.
  A ROMAN HOLIDAY 188 CHAPTER XXVI
  THE MARTYRS CROWNED 199 CHAPTER XXVII.
  THE MARTYRS BURIED 205 CHAPTER XXVIII.
  THE BETRAYAL—THE PURSUIT 215 CHAPTER XXIX.
  THE DOOM OF THE TRAITOR 224 CHAPTER XXX.
  FATE OF THE PERSECUTORS—
  TRIUMPH OF CHRISTIANITY 229

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VALERIA,

THE MARTYR OF THE CATACOMBS.

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CHAPTER I.

THE APPIAN WAY.

On a bright spring morning in the year of our Lord 303—it was in the "Ides of March," about the middle of the month, but the air was balmy as that of June in our northern clime—two note-worthy-looking men were riding along the famous Appian Way, near the city of Rome The elder of the two, a man of large size and of mighty thews and sinews, was mounted on a strong and richly-caparisoned horse. He wore the armour of a Roman centurion—a lorica or cuirass, made of plates of bronze, fastened to a flexible body of leather; and cothurni, or a sort of laced boots, leaching to mid-leg. On his back hung his round embossed shield; by his side, in its sheath, his short, straight sword, and on his head was a burnished helmet, with a sweeping horsehair crest. His face was bronzed with the sun of many climes. But when, for a moment, he removed his helmet to cool his brow, one saw that his forehead was high and white. His hair curled close to his head, except where it was worn bare at his temples by the chafing of his helmet, and was already streaked with grey, although he looked not more than five-and forty years of age. Yet the eagle glance of his eye was undimmed, and his firm-set muscles, the haughty expression of his countenance, and the high courage of his bearing, gave evidence that his natural strength was not abated.

His companion contrasted strongly in every respect. He had a slender,