that he is bound to depart for
Madrid the following morning as Ambassador.

In the second act all are drinking and frolicking on the green, where
the bridal is to take place.

{344}

Emma awaits her lover George Dibdin, who is in Davenant's service.
While she sings the ghastly romance of the Vampire, Lord Ruthven
approaches, and by his sweet flattery and promise to help the lovers,
he easily causes the simple maiden to grant him a kiss in token of her
gratitude. In giving this kiss she is forfeited to the Evil One.
George, who has seen all, is very jealous, though Emma tells him that
the future son-in-law of the Laird of Davenant will make him his
steward.

Meanwhile Aubry vainly tries to make Ruthven renounce Malwina. Ruthven
threatens that Aubry himself will be condemned to be a Vampire, if he
breaks his oath, and depicts in glowing colors the torments of a spirit
so cursed. While Aubry hesitates as to what he shall do, Ruthven once
more approaches Emma and succeeds in winning her consent to follow him
to his den, where he murders her.

In the last scene Malwina, unable any longer to resist her father's
will, has consented to the hateful marriage. Ruthven has kept away
rather long and comes very late to his wedding. Aubry implores them to
wait for the coming day, but in vain. Then he forgets his own danger
and only sees that of his beloved, and when Ruthven is leading the
bride to the altar, he loudly proclaims Ruthven to be a Vampire. At
this moment a thunder-peal is heard and a flash of lightning destroys
Ruthven, whose time of respite has ended at midnight. The old Laird,
witnessing Heaven's {345} punishment, repents his error and gladly
gives Malwina to her lover, while all praise the Almighty, who has
turned evil into good.

THE WALKYRIE.

First day of the Nibelungen Ring by WAGNER.

In the first scene we are introduced into the dwelling of a mighty
warrior, Hunding, in whose house Siegmund, a son of Wotan and of a
mortal woman, has sought refuge, without knowing that it is the abode
of an enemy. Sieglinda, Hunding's wife, who, standing alone and
abandoned in the world, was forced into this union against her will,
attracts the guest's interest and wins his love.

When Hunding comes home from the fight, he learns to his disgust, that
his guest is the same warrior, who killed his kinsmen and whom they
vainly pursued. The laws of hospitality forbid him to attack Siegmund
under his own