e old _bonde's_
declaration of his creed seemed eminently fitted to his character.
Lorimer's face brightened,--here was a novelty--a man, who in all the
conflicting storms of modern opinion, sturdily clung to the traditions
of his forefathers.

"By Jove!" he exclaimed eagerly, "I think the worship of Odin would suit
me perfectly! It's a rousing, fighting sort of religion,--I'm positive
it would make a man of me. Will you initiate me into the mysteries, Mr.
Gueldmar? There's a fellow in London who writes poetry on Indian
subjects, and who, it is said, thinks Buddhism might satisfy his pious
yearnings,--but I think Odin would be a personage to command more
respect than Buddha,--at any rate, I should like to try him. Will you
give me a chance?"

Olaf Gueldmar smiled gravely, and rising from his seat, pointed to the
western sky.

"See yonder threads of filmy white," he said, "that stretch across the
wide expanse of blue! They are the lingering, fading marks of light
clouds,--and even while we watch them, they shall pass and be no more.
Such is the emblem of your life, young man--you that would, for an idle
jest or pastime, presume to search into the mysteries of Odin! For you
they are not,--your spirit is not of the stern mould that waits for
death as gladly as the bridegroom waits for the bride! The Christian
heaven is an abode for girls and babes,--Valhalla is the place for men!
I tell you, my creed is as divine in its origin as any that ever existed
on the earth! The Rainbow Bridge is a fairer pathway from death to life
than the doleful Cross,--and better far the dark summoning eyes of a
beauteous Valkyrie, than the grinning skull and cross-bones, the
Christian emblem of mortality. Thelma thinks,--and her mother before her
thought also,--that different as my way of belief is to the accepted new
creeds of to-day, it will be all right with me in the next world--that I
shall have as good a place in heaven as any Christian. It may be so,--I
care not! But see you,--the key-note of all the civilization of to-day
is discontent, while I,--thanks to the gods of my fathers, am happy, and
desire nothing that I have not."

He paused and seemed absorbed. The young men watched his fine inspired
features with lively interest. Thelma's head was turned away from them
so that her face was hidden. By-and-by he resumed in quieter tones--

"Now, my lads, you know what we are--both of us accursed in the opinion
of the Lutheran community