room
perceived a remarkable and striking change. For old Biorn, whose whole
countenance, and not his eyes alone, had been wont to have a fiery
aspect, was now quite pale, almost like white marble; while, on the
other hand, the cheeks of the once deadly pale Sintram glowed with a
bright bloom like that of early youth. It was caused by the morning
cloud which still shone upon him, whose presence in the room was rather
felt than seen; but it produced a gentle thrill in every heart.

"See, my son," began the old man, softly and mildly, "I have lain for
a long time in a death-like sleep, and have known nothing of what was
going on around me; but within,--ah! within, I have known but too much!
I thought that my soul would be destroyed by the eternal anguish; and
yet again I felt, with much greater horror, that my soul was eternal
like that anguish. Beloved son, thy cheeks that glowed so brightly are
beginning to grow pale at my words. I refrain from more. But let me
relate to you something more cheering. Far, far away, I could see a
bright lofty church, where Gotthard and Rudlieb Lenz were kneeling and
praying for me. Gotthard had grown very old, and looked almost like
one of our mountains covered with snow, on which the sun, in the lovely
evening hours, is shining; and Rudlieb was also an elderly man, but very
vigorous and very strong; and they both, with all their strength and
vigour, were calling upon God to aid me, their enemy. Then I heard a
voice like that of an angel, saying, 'His son does the most for him! He
must this night wrestle with death and with the fallen one! His victory
will be victory, and his defeat will be defeat, for the old man and
himself.' Thereupon I awoke; and I knew that all depended upon whom thou
wouldst bring with thee. Thou hast conquered. Next to God, the praise be
to thee!"

"Gotthard and Rudlieb have helped much," replied Sintram; "and, beloved
father, so have the fervent prayers of the chaplain of Drontheim. I
felt, when struggling with temptation and deadly fear, how the heavenly
breath of holy men floated round me and aided me."

"I am most willing to believe that, my noble son, and everything thou
sayest to me," answered the old man; and at the same moment the chaplain
also coming in, Biorn stretched out his hand towards him with a smile of
peace and joy. And now all seemed to be surrounded with a bright circle
of unity and blessedness. "But see," said old Biorn, "how the faithful
Sk