Beneath the very eyes of Abul Malek, fourth descendant of Hafiz, they raised their impious walls; although he chafed to wreak a bloody vengeance for this outrage, his hands were tied by force of circumstance.

Abul Malek led, seated upon an Arabian steed whiter than the clouds which lay piled above the westward mountains.

After many days they arrived at Cordova, then when they had rested and cleansed themselves, Abul Malek craved audience of the Caliph, Aboul-Abbas El Hakkam.

" The illustrious Moslem shook his head, whereat Abul Malek cried: "Does not the Koran direct us to destroy the unbelieving and the impious?

" Abul Malek and his sons returned alone to their mountains, but when they reined in at the door of their castle the father spat venomously at the belfried roof of the monastery beneath and vowed that he would yet work his will upon it.

Abul Malek's venom passed them by; they gazed upon him with gentle eyes in which there was no spleen, although in him they recognized a bitter foe.

In order to make good his boast Abul Malek began to study the monks carefully, one after another.

Abul Malek was patient; he renewed his vow to hold the false religion up to ridicule and laughter, thinking, by encompassing the downfall of a single advocate, thus to prove his contention and checkmate its ever-widening influence.

Zahra was in her fourteenth year when Abul Malek beheld, one day, a new figure among those in the courtyard of the monastery below.

Nor was their meeting long delayed, for a sickness fell among the people of the valley, and Abul Malek, being skilled in medicine, went out to minister among the poor, according to his religion.

He had lived a sheltered life from his earliest youth, so it transpired, and Abul Malek rejoiced in the discovery, it being his belief that all men are flesh and that within them smolder flames which some day must have mastery.

Just abreast of Abul Malek's point of vantage Joseph paused to listen.

Abul Malek rose, his white teeth gleaming through his beard.

II Abul Malek once more rode home alone to his castle; but this time as he dismounted at his door he smiled at the monastery below.

Do what they would, he still declined, until in despair the Hadjeb sent for Zahra, daughter of Abul Malek.

When Abul Malek heard of this he praised his God, and, gathering his horsemen, he set out to bring his daughter home, for the time was ripe.

It was some slave girl busied among the vines of Abul Malek, he decided, for she translated all the fragmentary airs that float through summer eveningsthe songs of sweethearts, the tender airs of motherhood, the croon of distant waterfalls, the voice of sleepy locustsand yet she wove them into an air that carried words.

Close the doors!" cried the voice of Abul Malek.

Torches sprang into flame, braziers of resin wood began to smoke, flambeaux were lit, and, half blinded by the glare, the Christian monk stood revealed in the hall of Abul Malek.

" "What sort of God is this who snares His holiest disciple, with the lusts of the flesh?" mocked Abul Malek.

You shall hear me through," gloated Abul Malek; and again Joseph bowed his tonsured head, murmuring: "It is my punishment.

"At him!" shouted Abul Malek, from his balcony.

Up over him rushed the giant, to the balcony above, where Abul Malek and his daughter stood at bay in the trap of their own manufacture.

" He let the writhing Abul Malek slip from out his grasp and peered at her through the smother.

Long ere they reached the castle it was but a seething mountain of flame; and in the morning naught remained of Abul Malek's house but heated ruins.