The clock struck twelve.

Suddenly the outer door was opened violently.

Heavy but hurried steps, the steps of a terrified old man, were heard in the narrow vestibule between the two doors; then David burst into the parlor.
"Danger, danger!" he cried.

"Come! come, all! The evil spirits are unchained! Fiery mitres are on their heads! Demons, Vertumni, Sirens! they tempt her as Jesus was tempted on the mountain! Come, come! and drive them away." "Do you not recognize the language of Swedenborg ?" said the pastor, laughing, to Wilfrid.

"Here it is; pure from the source." But Wilfrid and Minna were gazing in terror at old David, who, with hair erect, and eyes distraught, his legs trembling and covered with snow, for he had come without snow-shoes, stood swaying from side to side, as if some boisterous wind were shaking him.
"Is he harmed ?" cried Minna.
"The devils hope and try to conquer her," replied the old man.
The words made Wilfrid's pulses throb.
"For the last five hours she has stood erect, her eyes raised to heaven and her arms extended; she suffers, she cries to God.