orde of wretches. With her arms akimbo, she drew up her
lithe and graceful form to its full height, and with flashing eyes
looked at her father while he related what had befallen him. Seraphin
could not help wondering at the transformation. Such a display of
spirit he had not been prepared to witness in a girl so gentle and
beautiful. When her father had ended his account, she seized his hand
passionately, pressed it warmly between her own hands, and kissed the
chain.

"Father, dear father," she exclaimed in a burst of feeling, "I thank
you from my heart for acting as you did! Those wretches were scoffing
at our holy religion, but you behaved bravely in defence of the faith.
For this they put chains on you, as the heathen did to S. Peter and S.
Paul."

Once more she kissed the chain, then, turning quickly, hastened across
the yard to the house.

"Mechtild isn't like the rest of us," said Holt, smiling. "There's a
great deal of spirit in her. I have often noticed it. But I am not
astonished at her being roused at the mock procession--I was roused
myself. I declare, Mr. Seraphin, it is a shame, a crying shame, that
persons are permitted to rail at doctrines and things which we revere
as holy. One would almost believe Satan himself was in some people,
they take so fanatical a delight in scoffing at a religion which is
holy and enjoins nothing but what is good."

"It is incontestable that infidelity hates and opposes God and
religion," replied Gerlach. "The boasted culture of those who find a
pleasure in grossly wounding the most sacred feelings of their
neighbors, is wicked and stupid."

Mechtild returned with a file in her hand.

"Right, my child! I was just thinking of the file myself. Here, cut the
catches of the lock."

He laid his arm across the table. A few strokes of the file caused the
lock and remnant of chain to fall from his wrist.

"We will keep this as a precious memento," said she. "Only think,
father, that wicked official ordered you to be manacled, and he is the
representative of authority. How can one respect or even pray for
authorities when they allow religion to be ridiculed?"

"Pray for your enemies," answered the countryman gravely.

"I will do so because God commands me; but I shall never again be able
to respect the official!"

Her anger had fled; she appeared again all light and loveliness. He did
not fail to observe a searching look which she directed upon him, but
its meaning becam