. The one passion of his soul, which had
entirely filled it, was pride. Now that this was gone the world was
empty. He rode on and on wherever his horse took him. Before him
stretched out great forests. He thought: "What lies beyond these
forests? high mountains; and what beyond those? still higher peaks;
and what further? summits of snow--and not a house to offer me
refuge." So at the first stroke did everybody turn from him? was the
man who the day before had ruled half Transylvania and had castles at
his disposal not to find a hut to shelter him that night? was he to be
an object of ridicule to his foes and not have the satisfaction of
being able to laugh in the hour of death? was he to die ingloriously
like a hunted beast? He considered how he could arrange it so that
since he must die at least he should not be derided after death.

Gradually an idea began to develop in his mind. With this thought the
color came back to his cheeks, and as if strengthening him to a
decision he heard an inner voice saying:

"Yes, thither, thither."

He turned the bridle of his horse toward the forest before him and
disappeared among the trees.

* * * * *

The storm raged, the trees creaked in the wind, the rain fell and the
swollen streams roared. The horizon was surrounded by steep rocks and
at their feet in a pathless valley a rider stumbled along, who from
the heights above looked like a mere ant. May God be gracious to him
in this storm, at night, in such a place! It is Gregyina-Drakuluj.

* * * * *

Before our eyes is a splendid Oriental apartment, hundreds of wax
candles are lighted, but the ceiling is too high for their gleam to
reach; two rows of columns support the heavy architrave, slender
columns with the heads of animals for capitals, such as are found in
Persian temples. The space between the columns is hung with bright
draperies, the walls are covered with arabesques. This was the hidden
apartment of the Devil's Garden, and the one who dwelt here, woman,
fairy or demon, was Azraele. Here she shaped the future, made endless
plans, dreamed of power and battles, and new countries in which she
should be queen, of new stars in which she should be the sun.

Suddenly she heard a sound as if some one had ridden over the vaulted
ceiling: steps were heard in the passage adjoining and there were
three knocks at the door. She sprang hurriedly from her couch, drew