oking at his father,
who stretched out his arms toward him; but Roland remained motionless,
with lips pressed together, and eyes glaring like one insane.

"My son!" cried Sonnenkamp. "My only son! my beloved son! my child!
forgive me! forgive me!"

Roland rushed toward his father, grasped his hand, and wept over it.

"Oh, my child, your tears on my hand! Look,--this wound, this
scar,--look, the tears of my child heal it, the tears of my child
alone!"

Throwing himself upon Roland's breast, he exclaimed:--

"You, my son, you will not despise your father!"

While he spoke, his heart throbbed violently, and, for the first time
in his life, Roland saw his father weep. He embraced him and wept with
him.

Father and son then sat opposite each other speechless and motionless,
until at last Roland said:--

"Father, there is one way of salvation--only one way of salvation!"

"I am ready, speak, my son."

"I know it, father--I know it! That sublimest One said to the youth,
'Go and give away all that thou hast, and follow me.' And Parker has
said that this disgrace must be wiped out; and Benjamin Franklin would
say: 'Thou art free, be not a slave to thyself!' Cast all away from
you, father, let us be poor--poor! Will you?"

"I thank you, my son," replied Sonnenkamp; he was easier when he
saw that Roland had relieved his feelings. "You have a stout heart,
a bold spirit, you have noble courage; Herr Eric has taught you
well--grand--brave--I thank him--I thank you--that is fine--that is
right--the best!"

"Then you agree to it, father?"

"My son, I do not wish to make any pledges--not any; but I promise you,
that you shall be satisfied with what I shall do; just in this moment I
cannot determine anything."

"No, now; this very moment! it is the grandest, the only moment! It
must be done now! After this moment is death, night, damnation,
distraction, misery! Oh, father, you must be strong! I will work for
you, for my mother, for Manna, for myself! And Eric will be with us! I
know not what can be done, but it will----do cast everything away from
you!"

"My son, whatever I have of unrighteous possessions, so called, those I
will put away. I consider you, my son, no longer in your minority, you
are more, you are my brother, you are a man, you are judge of my
actions, you are to give your directions--everything with you, through
you, out of your pure, your blessed heart, out of your unbroken--yes,
your friend Eric, ou