Outside of ancient Syracuse on the island of Sicily, there lived a cruel ruler named Dionysius. He trusted no one. Nearby lived two best friends, Damon and Pythias. One day Pythias spoke out against Dionysius, who quickly ordered his execution, to take place in one month. Pythias wanted to return to his elderly parents to say goodbye and arrange for their care. Dionysius laughed, not trusting that Pythias would return. Damon stood up and offered to take Pythias' place until he returned. The ruler agreed only after stipulating that if Pythias did not come back, Damon would die instead. When the execution day arrived, Pythias had not returned, but Damon still believed that his friend would be there if he could. Just in time, Pythias ran in, offering up his own life for his friend's.

Albert Payson Terhune (1872-1942) was an American author, breeder of collies, and journalist, best known for his novels relating the adventures of his beloved collies. The Story of Damon and Pythias is the novelization of a Universal silent film, generously illustrat4ed with stills from the movie.

Damon and Pythias, both of whom are arrested by the tyrannical Dionysius. Condemned to death, Pythias asks only that he be allowed to head to his home country and say goodbye to his loved ones. Dionysius agrees, but only on condition that Damon remain behind as hostage, to be executed in Pythias' place should the latter not return. Circumstances of an incredible nature prevent Pythias from returning at the appointed time, and tension mounts as the loyal Damon mounts the scaffold in anticipation of death. Just in the nick of time, however, Pythias returns, whereupon Dionysius, profoundly moved by the friends' devotion to one another, releases them both.

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