ssed extreme disgust.

"Finally," proceeded the priest, "the supplications of the saintly
countess, Matilda, and of many holy men, induced our good Father to
raise the anathema on these conditions, proposed to the king, still
barefoot and numbed with cold."

A deathlike silence prevailed as the missionary began the enumeration:

"That Henry should appear at Augsburg--that the Pope should be the
judge--that he should submit without resistance to the decision--that he
should banish the excommunicated bishops and favorites--and if one of
these conditions were violated, that his guilt would be deemed
established, and the princes of the empire at liberty to elect another
king."

The knights still sat in silence, as if spell-bound, while Father Omehr
calmly went on with his narrative:

"The monarch swore to observe the compact inviolably. But to give
additional solemnity to the oath, the Pontiff, while celebrating the
Mass that followed the reconciliation, turned from the altar, and thus
addressed the king: 'Do, if it please you, my son, as you have seen me
do. The German princes are continually charging you with crimes for
which they demand an interdict over you for life, not only from the
seals of royalty, but from all communion with the Church or society.
They demand your immediate condemnation; but you know the uncertainty of
human judgments. Do, then, as I advise you, and if you are conscious of
innocence, rid the Church of this scandal and yourself of these
imputations! Receive this other half of the Host, that this proof of
your innocence may silence your enemies, and I pledge myself to be your
best champion in appeasing your barons and in arresting this civil
war!'"

"And Henry?--" whispered Rodolph, trembling with excitement.

"Recoiled from a proof so terrible," answered the missionary.

The duke still occupied his chair, with his forehead knit, and his arms
folded on his breast, but the Lord of Hers sprang to his feet and began
to pace the room, and the Baron of Stramen brought his battle-axe
heavily against the floor.

"Tell me," said Albert of Hers, addressing Father Omehr, "did not the
Pope revoke his pardon at this evident insincerity?"

"No," was the reply.

"Then, may God forgive me," returned the excited knight, "but the mercy
of His Holiness sounds like human folly!"

"It is weakness--cowardice!" muttered the Baron of Stramen.

The missionary smiled at cowardice in connection with the name o