Christianity teaches."

He turned away, approached the lonely hut, and tapped thrice--sharp
staccato knocks--at the door. The third one was answered. The door
swung back, and a dark damsel looked out.

"Is it thee, Pietro?"

"It is I, Zara."

He stepped in as he spoke, closed the door, took her face between his
hands, and kissed both brown cheeks. The girl's dark face lighted up
into the splendor of absolute beauty as she returned his caress.

"And how is it with thee, my Zara, and thy little one?"

"It is well. And thyself, Pietro?"

"Very well. And the mother?"

"Ah, the mother! Poor mother! She lies as you saw her last--as you
will always see her in this lower world--dead in life! And he"--the
girl Zara's eyes lighted fiercely up--"didst see him, Pietro?"

"I have seen him, spoken to him, told him the past, and terrified him
for the future. There is a son, Zara--a new-born son."

"Dog and son of a dog!" Zara cried, furiously. "May curses light upon
him in the hour of his birth, and upon all who bear his hated name!
Say, Pietro, why didst thou not strangle the little viper as you would