s the birds are when
summer night winds gently rock the fragrant blossoms? Then Balder was
growing in thy pure soul. But always with the good Balder there grows
up in every human soul his brother Hoder, the evil one, the child of
night.

"No one can suffer for thy sins,--no one can atone for the living but
themselves. One offering canst thou give, more dear to the gods than
the smoke of victims. This is the sacrifice of thine own vengeance,
the hate in thy untamed heart.

"Canst thou not forgive, O youth? Be reconciled with thyself and thy
foes, and then will Balder be reconciled with thee.

"Thou hatest Bele's sons because pride of birth was theirs and they
would not give thee Ingeborg, their sister. Strange it is but true,
that no one is proud of his own merit, but only of his fortune. Art
thou not proud of thy heroic deeds, of thy great strength? But who
gave thee this strength? Is it thy merit or Odin's gift? Censure not
another's pride, lest thine own be condemned. King Helge now is
fallen."

"Fallen!" exclaimed Frithiof; "King Helge is fallen?"

"Yes, my Frithiof. Thou must know that while thou wert building this
temple, Helge was far away, marching among the Finnish mountains. On a
lonely crag of the mountains was an ancient shrine. He wished to
enter, but the gate was closed and the key fast in the lock. Helge was
angry, and, grasping the doorposts, he shook them with all his might.
All at once with horrid crash the rotten pillars gave way, and a great
image standing on the doorposts fell upon him, and crushed him to
earth. Thus he died.

"Now Halfdan sits alone upon the throne of his father. To him offer
thy hand. The god Balder demands this offering. If thou refuse, in
vain has this temple been built, and vain are thy prayers for
forgiveness."

[Illustration: INGEBORG GIVEN TO FRITHIOF]

As the noble priest thus advised, King Halfdan entered the temple, but
stood apart in silence. Frithiof at once loosed his breast-plate and
placed the bright shield against the altar. To Halfdan he offered his
hand, saying, "In such a strife the noblest first offers his hand for
peace." King Halfdan met his friend half-way, and their hands, long
separated, met in a strong clasp.

Then the priest in solemn voice proclaimed Frithiof forgiven for his
crime against Balder, the loving god, and purified from his guilt.

Scarce had the words been spoken when Ingeborg entered, attired in
bridal robe