e the words of a noble spirit now passed away. Clodwig
had seen, as in a vision upon his death-bed, the combatants of the
present day dividing into two hostile camps, one of which rallied
around the Pope, the other around the standard of free thought. A third
party, agreeing partly with the former, and partly with the latter, he
thought impossible.

The protest was rejected; but the Doctor's proposition, openly to
acknowledge the justice of the Papal animadversions, was also set
aside. At the close of the celebration the brethren sat down to a
banquet. Roland was once more welcomed by the Banker with peculiar
heartiness.

The youth asked the Major in a low voice, why Professor Einsiedel and
Knopf were not members of the order.

"They are natural members of the association," answered the Major.

As they left the castle by the light of the full moon, Roland said to
the Major,--

"To have lived a day like this makes death seem easy."

"I say with Claus," answered the Major, "we won't look for death till
the very last."

And so their high-strung mood passed over into merriment.

On the following morning, the Major begged for the Banker's advice on a
matter bearing decisively upon his life; and in which the Banker could
assist him more than any one else.

The Banker declared himself ready to render any assistance.

CHAPTER XIV.

A VOLUNTARY SACRIFICE AND A FULFILMENT OF DESTINY.

Flowers of all sorts were blooming in the conservatories, buds upon the
artistically trained espalier trees were opening, and the park was
resounding with songs of the birds, restlessly chirping and flying
about at this time of wooing and mating.

Never before had Eric enjoyed the dawn of spring so intensely as now.
He was filled with the joy of love, and the heavy burdens which Fate
had laid upon him seemed like an accident, a dream, which he could all
at once shake off.

Early in the morning he would stroll in the park; a peculiar feeling of
joyousness would come over him at the thought that Spring would soon
reign over this, his own estate. Why should not these trees, these
meadows, these plantations put on new bloom and verdure, now that they
were his? And while wondering whether it would really ever be his lot
to pass here an industrious and peaceful life, he could not free
himself from a feeling of compassion for Sonnenkamp. The man had
planted and fostered all this--where was