How awful a form of martyrdom was it that Alexandria visited upon that beautiful Christian daughter! Gradually, hot, scalding pitch was poured over her body, in order that she might endure the utmost torture possible.
Heraklas looked around him at the proud, beautiful city.
"O Alexandria, Alexandria!" he whispered, "in thee is found the blood of the saints!" For a moment the thought of such a death, as a Christian's punishment, overcame him.

Yet he remembered that it was through Potamiaena's martyrdom that the soldier, Basilides, was led to become a Christian also.

He refused to take a pagan oath, and was brought to martyrdom.
When Heraklas reached home, he was trembling.

His short journey had been freighted with silent meaning..