fered for it until I have grown the very
jest of devils?

EVIL SPIRIT. Hear, brothers, hear!

THE MAN. The last hour strikes! the storm whirls in black and
ever-widening circles--the sea is breaking and dashing higher and higher
against the rocks, and as it mounts them, draws me on--an invisible
power urges me forward--nearer--ever nearer--bands of men advance from
behind upon me--mount my neck--and plunge me into the abyss!

EVIL SPIRIT. Rejoice, brothers, rejoice! He comes!

THE MAN. It is vain to struggle; useless to combat! the giddy bliss of
the abyss draws me on--my head is dizzy--the plunge is inevitable--my
brain whirls!--O God!--Thy fiend has conquered!

THE GUARDIAN ANGEL (_floating over the sea_). Peace, ye waves! Be still!

At this very moment of time the holy water of baptism is poured
upon the head of the infant, George Stanislaus.

GUARDIAN ANGEL. Return to thy house: and sin no more!

Return to thy house: and love thy child!

* * * * *

The saloon with the piano. The Man enters, and a servant follows
with a light.

THE MAN. Where is the countess?

SERVANT. My lady is ill.

THE MAN. She is not in her chamber; I have been there, and found it
empty.

SERVANT. The countess is not here, my lord.

THE MAN. Has she left the castle? Where is she to be found?

SERVANT. They came for my lady yesterday, and carried her away.

THE MAN. Answer at once, and tell me where they have taken the countess!

SERVANT. To the madhouse!

He rushes out.

THE MAN. Hear me, answer me, Mary!

Ah, I know you are only hiding for a moment to punish me for my
desertion; but I suffer, Mary!

Mary, my own Mary, in pity speak!

No--it is not so. She is not here, or she would answer to my cries.

John! Caroline! nurse!

The whole house seems deaf and dumb!

But what he has just told me, is not, cannot be true; it would be too
horrible!

Ah! I have never wished to wrong any human being; I would have made the
whole world happy; yet I have plunged the woman who trusted herself to
me, the innocent creature whom I swore to love and guard, into the hell
of those already damned on earth!

I blast all upon whom I breathe; and am doomed to destroy myself also!
Hell has only released me for a few hours, that I might present to men
its living image upon earth!

Upon what a pillow of horror will she lay to-night her helpless head!
with what harmonies have