es in to look for her father, and seeing Hans standing there in
tears, at once checks the laughter that was provoked by his droll
appearance, and moved to pity asks what ails him. At first he is
unwilling to answer, but, when she presses him to speak, he shows her
the ring and tells her that if she were willing to wear it for three
years, always thinking kindly of him, the gold would remain bright, and
at the end of that time the bann would be taken off him. Luise
promises never to forget him, and though Hans hesitates to give her the
ring, fearing the trial will be too heavy for the sweet child to whom
his heart goes out in love, she draws the ring from him, passes a
ribbon through it and hangs it round her neck.

In the meanwhile, the peasants, led by the revengeful innkeeper, make
an attack upon Hans and try to take away his sack. Hans relates how
the innkeeper tried to rob him, and forces him to show the 60 Florins
the latter had received for the Burgomaster's debt. In rage the
innkeeper throws the pieces on the ground; a flame leaps up from the
spot. This convinces the peasants that Hans is in league with the
Devil; they are about to kill him when Luise calls for aid and her
courage so astonishes the assailants that they let Hans go.

The third act takes place three years later.

Hans is discovered lying in a dense forest fast asleep. The Devil has
summoned a number of his little imps who are busily engaged in washing,
{396} combing and dressing the sleeper. Satan is in a very bad temper,
but he does not give up his battle for a soul with Heaven yet, and
intends to make a last effort to get Hans into his clutches. The lad's
hand, on which is the fateful ring, hangs close to the water of the
brook near which he lies, and Satan calls the water nymphs to take it
from him. But at this moment Hans wakes and his first thought is for
the ring which he looks at with rapture, seeing that its gold shines
undimmed. The Devil, (who appears not to be such a bad fellow after
all,) greets him in a friendly manner, and Hans, delighted to find
himself free from the spell, requires at once the fulfilment of the
three wishes the devil has promised to grant. His first wish, to
become what he was before, is already fulfilled. His second wish, to
keep the sack, but free from magic gold and charm, is also granted.
His third wish is, that for the future the Devil will let him alone and
never cross his path again. This also