your pillars
of fire, and bear them to her. But where must I seek thee--where? [Boat
is seen on horizon a moment.] It is she! Now, ring, fulfill my last wish
and take me to her! The ring is gone! Woe, what does this augur? Is my
story ended, or shall it now begin perhaps? Lisa, my soul's beloved! [He
runs up on cliff and waves.] If you hear me, answer; if you see me, give
me a sign! Ah--she turns out toward the fjord--Well, then, storm and
sea, that separate me from all that my heart loves, I challenge you to
battle for the highest prize! [Pushes out boat drawn up on shore.]

Blow, wind, and rock, wave! My weak keel shall cleave you like a sword.
On, my boat, even though we miss the goal, let us struggle on till we
sink!

CURTAIN.

ACT FIVE

SCENE: Interior of a little country church, with frescoed ceiling. At
back, centre, altar with crucifix; to left, pulpit; on a pillar down
left an image of Saint Bartholomew with skin in hand; directly opposite,
on a pillar, image of Saint Laurence with the grill. Broom is propped
against altar railing. Two rows of praying stools at right and left
sides form an aisle from front to altar. At right a confessional; at
left an iron door.

[The Elf stands in one window, the Fairy in the other.]

ELF. It was not the old man that ate up the porridge, it was the rats.

FAIRY. Then it was not to do Pehr a kindness that you sent him out in
the world, but to harm the old man!

ELF. Even we immortals can make mistakes. Let, us make amends for our
fault.

FAIRY. If it is not too late?

ELF. How so?

FAIRY. Pehr is a misanthrope and cannot become reconciled to life.

ELF. Lisa will rectify all that, and then the old man will have atoned
for his sin. One must patch where one has torn.

FAIRY. I have already made my preparations.

ELF. Here?

FAIRY. Here in this sanctuary whose floor we may not tread.

ELF. And why not? True, it is holy ground, and we were not allowed
to become participants in the Great Redemption because--well, because
something which we mustn't know about came between. But that does not
prevent the humans from believing some good of us; and in that they
do right, for the matter has its sides. Meantime, I shall not absent
myself--even if I may not be near to witness that this reconciliation
comes out all right. Even we lost souls can rejoice in the happiness of
others. Farewell, but not for long.

FAIRY. Farewell. [Elf and Fairy vanish.]

[Enter Lis