er? nothing but help and guidance to him who has a
self-moving power.

Half way up the mountain, Eric stopped at the road which led to the
Major's. He looked down at the villa which bore the proud name of Eden,
and the Bible story came to his memory. In the garden are two trees,
the tree of life in the midst, and the tree of knowledge of good and
evil; Eden is lost for him who eats of the tree of knowledge. Is it not
always so?

Like a revelation the thought came to him, There are three things given
to man upon earth,--enjoyment, renunciation, and knowledge.

Sonnenkamp yonder--what does he wish for himself and his son?
enjoyment. The world is a spread table, and man has only to learn to
find the right means and the right measure of enjoyment. The earth is a
place of pleasure, and brings forth its fruits that we may delight
ourselves therewith. Have we no other calling than to drive, to eat, to
drink, and to sleep, and then to eat, drink, sleep, and drive again;
and is the sun to shine just for this?

What does the priest want? renunciation. This world has nothing to
offer, its enjoyments are only an illusive show, which tempt you hither
and thither, therefore turn away from them.

And what do you desire? And what ought those to desire whom you wish to
make like yourself? knowledge. For life is not divided into enjoyment
and renunciation, and knowledge rather includes both in itself,--is the
synthesis of both. It is the mother of duty and of all beautiful deeds.

In the old times, the combatants received out of an immeasurable height
a protecting shield from the hands of the gods; Eric received no
shield, and yet he felt that he was concealed from and protected
against all foes, and he was so happy in himself that he felt no desire
for any human being, no desire for anything beside; he was upborne by
the wings of knowledge.

He went yet farther on in the way. Peaceful, and enjoying an internal
satisfaction, he came to the Major's in the next village. He knew that
here he should have to stand no examination.

CHAPTER V.

THE GOOD COMRADE.

The Major lived in a beautifully situated house in the vineyard of a
rich vintner from the fortress, or rather, to use the proper
expression, of a brother of the order, for the central point of the
Major's life rested firmly, in Freemasonry, and he cherished it within
his life and thought, as his holy of hol