ge. We still
stammer at the word of salvation. But is the child who cannot yet
speak, on that account not to make known his wishes by cries? Lofty and
noble to us is the religion of love, but love cannot be commanded, love
is the genius of the heart; on the other hand, kindness, regard, active
help can be commanded and guided; love, never. The great command, Love
thy neighbor as thyself, has become hypocrisy; it is said, I love my
neighbor, but I have nothing to do for him. Our doctrine says, Help thy
neighbor as thyself. Love is a sort of musical susceptibility which can
be counterfeited, but help cannot be. Therefore we apply more broadly
the command, and say, Help thy neighbor as thyself. And you must do it
yourself; for we stand upon the fundamental principle that there is no
substitution in the realm of moral activity, and here it is the primal
law that every one shall do guard-duty for himself."

"You've said that once before," Pranken interposed.

"True, and I shall often repeat it. I think that we have as good a
right as our opponents, who are not always uttering some new truth. The
sunlight of to-day is like that of yesterday----"

Here Roland burst in breathless, crying: "Eric, you must come at once,
the field-guard is here; he is like a crazy man, and he says that you
only can decide, and you alone shall decide."

"What has happened?"

"Sevenpiper has drawn the grand prize, and Claus says that the money
belongs to him. Come, he's like one raving mad."

Eric went down to the courtyard.

There sat Claus upon a dog-kennel, and looked dolefully up at Eric and
Roland. He spoke so thick and confusedly, that they could not make out
distinctly what he meant; this only was plain, that Sevenpiper had
drawn the prize, and Claus asserted that it belonged to him.

Sonnenkamp, Pranken, and Manna also made their appearance on the steps,
and now Claus screamed out that Manna must bear testimony to having
given him the money for the ticket, and he had simply forgotten to
redeem it.

Eric quieted Claus, and promised to go with him to Sevenpiper. He asked
permission of Sonnenkamp to have the horses harnessed. Roland was
urgent to accompany him. Claus took a seat with the coachman on the
box, and so they drove to the village to Sevenpiper's house.

They met the cooper in front of the house, and he told Eric that
Sevenpiper had just turned him out of it. He said that he was in love
with Sevenpiper's oldest daughter, a