needs no armorer now,' said the captain, with decision; 'sharp
weapons are not good for children and drunken men: they injure
themselves and others with them. Thou goest with us back to the head
quarters at Walbeck.'

'Never!' exclaimed Alf, in wrath, drawing his knife.

'Pardon his imprudence,' entreated Fabricius, stepping between them.
'His spirit is diseased and heavily weighed down; but his heart is
better than his mistaken faith. He has hazarded his life in my defence
against the episcopalians, regardless of the difference of our creeds.
Let him go in freedom.'

'You know not what you ask, doctor,' said the captain, displeased.
'Ought I to permit the rebels to strengthen themselves by the
acquisition of such a stout fellow?'

'There are already, alas! a plenty of wicked men,' said Fabricius,
'ferociously raging in the unhappy city. It seems to me it is to be
wished, that there should be some good souls among them, who might
mitigate many an evil, and prevent many a crime. The whole conduct of
this youth convinces me, that his erroneous opinions will not hold out
against the misdeeds he will witness, and against the voice of truth in
his own heart; and then may even he become a fit instrument in God's
cause. Let him go, by my desire.'

'Go then,' impatiently cried the captain, returning to the drinking
table.

'God reward thee,' said Alf, with deep feeling, and pressing the hand
of Fabricius to his bosom; 'thou hast saved me from murder.'

'The Lord enlighten thee!' said Fabricius, laying his hands upon the
youth's head for a farewell blessing, 'so that we may one day joyfully
meet again.'

'Yon say that with great confidence, sir,' cried Alf, perplexedly, 'as
if the error were certainly upon _our_ side. I firmly believe it to be
upon _yours_. For God's sake, then, which of us two is right in these
dreadful contentions?'

'If that doubt itself do not already tell thee, my son,' said
Fabricius, in a friendly manner, 'only submit the new belief to the
touchstone of thy reason and thy honest heart--bring it to the test of
the holy scriptures,--seek the truth with diligence and thou shalt find
it.'

'No, no!' cried Alf, in the wild conflict of his soul. 'The holy
spirit, that spoke by our prophets, cannot err. Satan himself must have
whispered the wicked doubt to me: I reject and cast it from me, as,
according to God's commandment, I ought the eye that offends me. I am,
here, yet within the confines of an