The Scapegoat

usiness connections with the house of Sara's father, and he came over to England that he might have a personal meeting with his correspondent. The English banker lived o

second. Oliel was a man of quick perception, and he saw the difficulty. That was how it came about that he was married to Sara. When he

the other. Sara was a nervous and sensitive little woman, hungering for communion and for sympathy. She got little of either from her husband, and grew

g made no apparent difference to his father. He grew to be a tall and comely boy, quick and bright, and inclined to be of a sweet and cheerful disposit

was a shock and a terror to Sara. Nevertheless, she supported its penalties through three weary years, sinking visibly under them day after day. By that time a second family had begun to share her husband's house, t

e. If she had married into a foreign country, she should abide by the ways of it. Sara was heartbroken. Her health had long been poor, and now it failed her

er is the bread that one is forced to eat at another's table. When he should have been still at school he was set to some menial occupation in the bank at Holborn Bars, and when he ought to

rst by the zealous importunities of his uncles. Then one day a letter came written in distant tone and formal manner, announcing that the writer had been some time confined to his bed, and did not expect to leave it; that the children of his second wife had died in infancy; that he was alone, and had

stormy, and the surf on the shore was heavy, and thus it chanced that, even while the crazy old packet on which he sailed lay all day beating about the bay, in fear of being dashed on to the ruins of the mole, his father's body

London, he appealed from the Kadi to the Aolama, men wise in the law, who acted as referees in disputed cases; but it was decided that as a Jew he had no right in Mohammedan law to offer evidence in a civil court. He laid his case before the British Consul, but was found to have no claim to English intervention, be

itable spirit. Besides that, the treatment he was having now was but of a piece with what he had received at all times. Nothing had availed to crush him, even as nothing ever does avail to crush a man of character. But the obstacles and torments which m

red together to beat him down, Israel looked about

the post six months only, to the complete satisfaction of the Kaid, but amid the muttered discontent of the merchants and tradesmen. Then the Governor of Tetuan, a bigger town lying a long day's journ

le, and ass, so many floos for every fowl, and so many metkals for the purchase and sale of every slave; how he numbered the houses and made lists of the trades, assessing their tribute by the value of their businesses-so much for gun-making, so much for

by the impulse of a sour and saddened heart. The world had shown no mercy to him, and he need show no mercy to the world. Why talk of pity? It was only a name, an idea a mocking thou

strong hand that was on

. "Who is this Jew-this son of the Eng

resumed the dress of his race in his country-the long dark gabardine or kaftan, with a scarf for girdle, the black slippers, and the blac

no god but God! Curses on your r

struck off his cap with a crutch. He picked it up again without a look or a word, and strode away. But next morning, at e

as doing for their Governor, the Jews hated him

nemy," they said, "against th

. He showed no malice. Only his strong face twitched at each fresh insult and his head was held higher. Only thi

t now his work went further. A little group of old Jews, all held in honour among their people-Abraham Ohana, nicknamed Pigman, son of a former rabbi

that was on their people was a daring and terrible one. None do

own." Then the owner of the house which Israel rented for his lodging evicted him by a poor excuse, and all other Jewish owners refused him as tenant. But the conspiracy failed. By command of

ants deserted him, and when he asked for Moors he was told that the faithful might not obey the unbeliever; and when he would have sent for negroes out of the Soudan he was warned that a Jew

put her curse upon him." Then she who was so called, one Rebecca Bensabbot, deaf as a stone, weak in her intellect, seventy years of age, and living fifty years on the poor-box which Reuben Maliki kept, crossed Israel in the streets, and cursed him as a son of Beelzebub predicting that, eve

hurt," he thought, "

od had given her grace and she was beautiful, and many young Jewish men, of Tetuan had vied with each other in vain for he favour. Of Israel's duty she knew little, save what report had said of it, that it was evil; and

who had been cheated of his youth and had missed his early manhood, the when he was ignored he ignored his insult, and whe

of his little world had seen him as his father's son, but the light and warmth of the eyes of Ruth saw him as the son of his mother also. The Rabbi himself was old, very old-ninety

its course, few stood beside the Chief Rabbi. Nevertheless, all the Jews of the quarter and all the Moors of Tetuan were alive to what was happening, and on the ni

d the enemy of her nation, and woe to him that gave her against the hope of his people! They shall taste death. He shall see them fall from his side and die," then the old man listened and

shame! Remember the doom of him that s

r, "My good people, what is this? Your servant is grown old in your service. Sixty and odd years he has shared y

silent and made no answer. Then he staggered back, and Israel helped him into his house, an

Jews whispered, "It is the first-fruits!" and the Moor