pain, and had his eyes directed imploringly toward heaven. 'Not even to
be able to die,' groaned he. 'Thou punishest heavily my foolishness, O
God!'

'Be satisfied unhappy man,' exclaimed the terrible prophet, who had
followed him. 'Heaven has revealed to me that the hour of thy death has
not yet come. God has determined to show thee mercy. Convey him to his
dwelling,' said he to the bearers, 'so that he may be taken care of by
his own family. The Lord desires not the death of sinners, but that
they should be converted and live.'

'Bear me forward quickly,' begged the dying man to those who were
carrying him. 'These bible-sayings cut me to the heart,--for, out of
his mouth, they sound to me like a blaspheming of God.'

They bore him toward his house. Alf tremblingly followed the poor
Clara, whose eyes were streaming with countless tears, and who on the
way vainly sought to check with her handkerchief the flow of blood from
the gushing wounds.

At the door of Trutlinger's house the sad train was received by a
beauteous maiden. Around her noble, blooming face, floated in profusion
the rich curls of her dark locks. The fire of her black eyes, increased
by enthusiasm, pierced deep into the heart. Her high forehead, her
finely arched nose, her slender and majestic figure, imparted to her
whole appearance something queenlike, which even her burgher garb, (in
consequence of the strictness of the new belief deprived of every
ornament) could not counteract. When she perceived the situation of her
unhappy uncle, she wrung her white hands, tears burst from her eyes,
which in the bitterness of her grief were raised to heaven, and
embellished by her sorrow she stood, a weeping Madonna. The meek,
unassuming Clara became wholly eclipsed by her noble figure, at which
Alf stood gazing with true devotion. 'For God's sake, what has happened
to you, dear uncle?' cried she, accompanying the bearers, who conveyed
the sufferer into the nearest lower room and there laid him upon a bed.

'He has practised continual mocking of the holy mission of our
prophets,' answered one of the bearers, 'and the prophet Matthias has
judged him before the congregation.'

'God be merciful to his poor soul!' murmured the departing populace,
and Alf was left alone with the maidens and the dying man.

'How came your senses so entirely to desert you, my poor uncle, as to
permit you to fall into so heavy a sin?' moaned the beauteous girl, who
was bandaging