Chapter I: Preface

It seems unnecessary to suggest that this book is entirely independent of the conventional lines of the modern realistic novel. To any who hold that idealism in fiction is not artistic, that a didactic element is inadmissible, and that philosophizing has no place, the work will hardly commend itself. To others, who believe that fiction may be a useful vehicle for the conveyance of helpful ideals, and even abstract truth, it is offered with the hope that it may furnish some measure both of entertainment and profit.

On many historical and chronological points that are involved, authorities differ; but so far as the author has been able to sift them, the prevailing and apparently most probable hypotheses have been followed. As may be inferred, it has been necessary to glean in many fields for the facts, opinions, and conclusions that make up the historic portion of the raw material from which this story has been fabricated.(1)

A majority of the characters being creations, and a large part of the action also unhistoric, it must be left to the judgment of the reader how well they fit into their historic frame‐work. So far as St. Paul is introduced in the narrative, nearly everything delineated belongs to those portions of his life which are but very briefly or incidentally touched upon, either in the Scriptural writings or other history. But utilizing many undoubted realities, the aim has been to fill in the wide blanks with that which is in accord and in the line of the possible or probable.

The author has intended to respect the hallowed associations which cluster about the name of the great Apostle. But Paul was a man with like passions as other men, and to be faithful, any outline of the forces that played through his great soul should be drawn naturally, and without that misleading glamor often imposed by far‐away time and distance. Only by such a treatment can his life be brought near, and its practical lessons enforced. If to any the interpretation seem unduly broad, they may be assured that the author has no iconoclastic intent, but on the contrary, an aim which is wholly constructive, whereby everything wholesome and uplifting in human life may be encouraged and strengthened.

BOSTON, 1898.

CONTENTS

PART FIRST
CHAPTER PAGE
I. A RELIGIOUS PROCESSION IN TARSUS 1
II. AN EVENING EXCURSION ON THE CYDNUS 8
III. IN THE TOILS 17
IV. THE NET IS RENT 23
V. TWO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS 32
VI. TO THE TOWER OF ANTONIA 40
VII. A TARSIAN FESTIVAL TO APOLLO 47
VIII. THE MYSTERIES OF THE ADYTUM 56
IX. SOLILOQUY OF GAMALIEL’S DAUGHTER 68
X. MAGIC AND MYSTERY: STRANGE VISIONS 79
XI. IMPORTANT MESSAGES 92
XII. SERENUS MAKES AN AVOWAL 102
XIII. THE WALLS HAVE EARS 111
XIV. LOVE VERSUS DUTY 121
XV. THE RESCUE OF REBECCA 133
XVI. AFTER THE STORM 146
XVII. A ROMAN PARADE 161
XVIII. AMABEL’S REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE 177
XIX. SURROUNDED BY PRISON WALLS 195
XX. SOWING AND REAPING 211
XXI. THE GREAT HARVEST 228
PART SECOND
_THE LIGHT SPREADS TO THE WESTWARD_
XXII. SUNSHINE AND SHADOW 245
XXIII. A BATTERED EAGLE 260
XXIV. ON THE VERGE OF THE UNSEEN 280
XXV. A PSYCHICAL JOURNEY 299
XXVI. A POWERFUL PULSE STIRRED 312
XXVII. A MESSAGE FROM STEPHANOS 330
XXVIII. LEANDER VISITS A MYSTIC SHRINE 348
XXIX. CHANGES OF SOUL‐COLOR 368
XXX. A PARADISE DISCOVERED 381
XXXI. IN DEEP WATERS 399
XXXII. SCOURGING AND FLIGHT 412
XXXIII. A PRIESTESS OF THE TARSIAN TEMPLE 422
XXXIV. ONCE MORE UPON THE CYDNUS 430
PART THIRD
_AFTER THE FLIGHT OF TWENTY YEARS_
XXXV. THE BAY OF PUTEOLI 441
XXXVI. NOCTURNAL INTERVIEW WITH A SEER 449
XXXVII. TWO WOEFUL SOULS RELEASED 463
PART FOURTH
_SAULUS IN ROME_
XXXVIII. AWAITING TRIAL BEFORE NERO 481
XXXIX. ANTIPODES BROUGHT FACE TO FACE 492
XL. THE VISIBLE FORM LAID ASIDE 500

VICTOR SERENUS

A STORY OF THE PAULINE ERA

_PART FIRST_