Giuseppe Gambardella

Dr Faust is continually obsessed with his quest for knowledge and absolute pleasure. One day, the demon Mephistopheles appears to him in his study in human guise and offers him a deal: a lifetime of total pleasure in exchange for the life of his fiancée Margaret. Faust accepts but is soon forced to realise the impossibility of crossing the boundaries of knowledge and the limits imposed by God.

From a window in Fabiola's house, Sebastian watches the Christians being taken to their cells, and as he listens to the shrieks and curses of the multitude his heart is stirred with pity. Later Sebastian is denounced to the Emperor as a Christian, and he is condemned to die by the swords of the Numidian guards. The news is brought to Fabiola, who sends one of her slaves to the chief of the Numidians. Heis brought to her house, and rich bribes are offered to him not to fulfil the Emperor's command. Sebastian is taken to the place of execution, and the chief commands his followers to shoot with their arrows, but not to kill. Dangerously wounded, Sebastian is carried to Fabiola's house, where she tenderly nurses him back to health. But Sebastian, partially recovered, sets out to meet the Emperor, and reproaches him for his cruelty towards the Christians.

Tired men takes magic pills that make them overly energetic.