ate, but at which he on whom it was bent quailed not. "Hast thou
not received sufficient experience of the terrific sufferings which
twelve times a year thou art doomed to endure? Knowest thou not on each
occasion thou destroyest human life, where mortal beings are in thy
path--or that thou ravagest the fair scenes which He whose name I dare
not mention has created? and art thou ignorant of the tremendous horror
and loathsome obloquy which attach themselves to the name of a
Wehr-Wolf? See--thou art already wearied of traveling through the
various climes of the earth; thou no longer delightest in cultivating
thine intellect, so marvelously adapted to receive knowledge of all
kinds; and thy power to create whole mines of wealth is exercised no
more. But thou would'st fix thine abode in this island forever, were
Nisida to remain thy companion! Well--and if thou losest her? for
assuredly a vessel will some day touch on these shores--what would'st
thou do then? All lonely, desolate, forlorn, thou would'st curse the day
that gave thee regenerated life--thou would'st seek death--and to thee
death may not come yet for many, many years! Fernand, thou art worse
than mad not to embrace my offers. Consent to become mine--mine
eternally, when thy mortal breath shall leave thy body, and in the
meantime I promise thee power illimitable--happiness such as no human
being ever yet enjoyed----"

"No--no!" exclaimed Wagner. "Rather the destiny of a Wehr-Wolf--rather
the solitude of this island for the remainder of my days--than resign
all chance of salvation! And that mine immortal soul is yet safe, the
very temptations thou offerest with such eloquent persuasion fully
proves! Oh! Heaven, of its infinite mercy, will receive the dreadful
sufferings 'tis mine to endure each month, as an atonement for that hour
of weakness, madness, folly, when dazzled by the words of Faust, and
overwhelmed by a weight of miseries, I accepted a regenerated existence.
Yes, Heaven will forgive me yet: and therefore avaunt, fiend! avaunt!"
And as he uttered these words he made the sign of the cross, and the
demon fled away howling. Wagner turned aside in dismay, and sank upon
the ground as if blasted by the lightning. A deep sleep fell on
Fernand's eyes, and in his dreams he thought he heard a solemn but
rejoicing strain of music filling the air. That divine melody seemed to
speak a language eloquent and intelligible, and to give him hope and
promise of a delive