onishment, and the
horror-stricken Goes fell back into a chair, sighing, 'it is, indeed,
my son!'

The son beheld his father with deep emotion, and his tears freely
flowed at the sight of the old man's grief. At length, falling upon his
knee, he stretched forth his hands and said, 'I am sensible that
according to your laws my life is forfeited; therefore give me your
blessing, and then quickly pronounce the sentence that shall bring
peace to this troubled heart.'

'Oswald, Oswald!' cried Goes, 'what a terrible meeting, after ten years
of separation! Wretched youth! why did you flee from your father's
house?'

'The conflicting opinions which now lacerate Germany,' answered the
youth, 'placed a dreadful gulf between you and me. The idea of
constraining the consciences of men by means of the sword was revolting
to me, and, unable to approve or participate in your acts, and
shuddering at your sectarian zeal, I left you, that no unnatural
contest might arise between father and son.'

'Where have you been until now?' asked the colonel with an anxiety
which indicated that he feared to hear the worst.

'In the military service of Denmark,' answered Oswald, 'until two years
ago I found here in Schweidnitz, in the seclusion of humble life, the
peace and quiet which I sought.'

'In the Danish service!' murmured the colonel; 'fighting for heresy
against the mother church!'

His grief overpowered him. At length he roused himself by a powerful
effort from the whirlpool of conflicting feelings into which he had
sunk. 'What could prompt you,' he asked his son in a tone of firmness
and severity, 'to the senseless deed of murdering an imperial officer
in a city under the control of his brethren in arms?'

'Eternal ignomy to the man,' cried Oswald, 'who would see an honorable
woman, a tender mother, a fellow believer, outraged and insulted by a
brutal villain, on account of her faith, and not strike down the
monster, reckless of consequences, as did Peter when his Lord was
assailed!'

'A fellow believer?' cried Goes with terror. 'Hast thou then become a
heretic?'

'I hesitate not,' said the youth with modest resolution, 'to avow
myself a believer in the pure faith of Zuinglius.'

'He cuts me to the heart,' groaned the colonel. Then, summoning
resolution, he turned to Dorn and said, 'I hope you have now perceived
and are ready to recant your errors. That is the only way to save your
life.'

'Would you have me deny what I