grees obtained more consistency, when its nature
began to undergo a sudden change, assuming the semblance of a luminous
mist. Wagner's heart seemed to flutter and leap in his breast, as if
with a presentiment of coming joy; for the luminous mist became a
glorious halo, surrounding the beauteous and holy form of a protecting
angel, clad in white and shining garments, and with snowy wings drooping
slowly from her shoulders! And ineffably--supernally benign and
reassuring was the look which the angel bent upon the sleeping Wagner,
as she said in the softest, most melodious tones, "The choir of the
heavenly host has hymned thanks for thy salvation! After thou hadst
resisted the temptations of the enemy of mankind when he spoke to thee
with his own lips, an angel came to thee in a dream to give thee
assurance that thou hadst already done much in atonement for the crime
that endangered thy soul; but he warned thee then that much more
remained to be done ere that atonement would be complete. And the rest
is now accomplished; for thou hast resisted the temptations of the evil
one when urged by the tongue and in the melodious voice of lovely woman!
This was thy crowning triumph: and the day when thou shalt reap thy
reward is near at hand; for the bonds which connect thee with the
destiny of a Wehr-Wolf shall be broken, and thy name shall be inscribed
in Heaven's own Book of Life! And I will give thee a sign, that what
thou seest and hearest now in thy slumber is no idle and delusive vision
conjured up by a fevered brain. The sign shall be this: On awaking from
thy sleep, retrace thy way to the spot where this morning thou didst
separate from her whom thou lovest; and there shalt thou find a boat
upon the sand. The boat will waft thee to Sicily; and there, in the town
of Syracuse, thou must inquire for a man whose years have numbered one
hundred and sixty-two; for that man it is who will teach thee how the
spell which has made thee a Wehr-Wolf may be broken."

Scarcely had the angel finished speaking, when a dark form rose suddenly
near that heavenly being; and Wagner had no difficulty in recognizing
the demon. But the enemy of mankind appeared not armed with terrors of
countenance, nor with the withering scorn of infernal triumph; for a
moment his features denoted ineffable rage--and then that expression
yielded to one of the profoundest melancholy, as if he were saying
within himself, "There is salvation for repentant man, but n