use in trying to do anything else;
he could not prevail against his brother's bodily strength.

Mastering both the others with his quiet force, the smith sat towering
above them and began to read from the Bible. He did not seek long. He
opened the book and turned a few leaves.

"And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when
they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and
slew him."

Stephen closed the book with a bang. "Well--I made it short enough,
didn't I?" said he. A peculiar drawn look disfigured his face yet more.
His lower jaw seemed to tremble as if with physical pain. Then he went
on: "A man can also kill his brother, without laying hands on him--he
can--he can--kill his soul, you see."

Two tears ran down Maria's pale, delicate face into her plate. She
trembled as if with cold or fear. The blond brother snatched up his
sharp table-knife. "Now let me go, you!" he muttered savagely.

The table stood between him and the door. Stephen rose and stood before
the door. His head reached almost to the ceiling of the high room. His
shoulders were broader than the doorway that he was guarding. "Lay the
knife down," said he. The other looked up at him and obeyed. It was
unthinkable that he could defend himself against such a man.

Stephen came slowly back to the table. "When you are through eating,
no one will keep you any longer," said he, "but supper must be
eaten--everything in regular order."

So then they ate their strange meal together. Each took his portion
from the platter onto his plate; Ludwig set his teeth and ate, neither
more nor less than on ordinary days, the smith ate just as usual, but
Maria took only a few drops which seemed to choke her. When they
had eaten in silence, Ludwig rose, and forced out two or three words.
"Now--perhaps I may go--now--" and he took his blacksmith's cap from a
chair near by.

Stephen Fausch, the smith, did not hinder him. He too arose, picked up
his ragged leather apron from the floor, and tied the stiff thing on.
Meanwhile his brother stepped to the door. There he made some sign to
Maria, and for a moment it seemed as if she too was going to turn
toward him; but in an instant it was as if fear had overcome them both.
Maria put the plates together, and the blond young man left the room
without any sign of farewell. With leisurely tread the smith followed
his departing brother.

On the landing Ludwig picked up a traveling sa