“You will do well to consider the matter calmly, and give me your final decision, Brother Michael.  I will return this evening for it.  We will try to help each other in a spirit of brotherly love, and you well know I am willing to exercise mercy and patience, as we are commanded; but there are times when both must cease.”  Saying thus, he left the room.

* * * * * *

Brother Mauer sat alone with his daughter, and a deathly silence enwrapped the two, left alone together with their grief.  The sky was still dark, with threatening dark clouds, which threw their deep shadows over the room, and at intervals a blinding flash of lightning illuminated with dazzling ray the bowed figures of father and daughter; while loud claps of thunder called to them, as if to rouse them from the sorrowful trance.

But they stirred not.  Outside, the rain poured in torrents, and the wind swept howling by; but they seemed not to hear.  At last Mauer’s hand felt its way to the girl’s head, and passed lovingly and gently over it.  She caught his fingers, as if the very touch inspired her with new life; and raising her head, she turned her hot, tearless eyes up to him, saying in an inexpressibly sad tone: 

“Father, why have you forsaken your child in her hour of need?”

“Because, Carmen, I am powerless before this man,” he returned in a low voice.

“Powerless?” she asked.  “But how can he have any power over you if you do not wish it?  He, a friend, against his friend!”

“Ah, Carmen,” answered the old man, “that he has not used his power against me before is another proof of his friendship for me; but now, when he sees fit to exert it, I cannot prevent him, and must bear it.  I have already told you that it is a great misfortune that he loves you, and you cannot return his affection.”

“Father, my thoughts are so perplexed by all this.  I cannot understand how any one can have such power over you that you are forced to leave your own child unprotected.”

Mauer sighed deeply.  Carmen rose, and began to pace restlessly up and down the room.  Outside, the thunder-storm raged with ungovernable fury; within, the poor girl was endeavoring to quiet the tumult of her aching heart, and collect her scattered thoughts.

“Father,” she said at last, breaking silence, and seating herself near him, “speak, and let me know how and why Brother Jonathan can injure you.  What can we do to avert the peril we are in?”

“Carmen, could you bear to behold in your father a culprit, a great sinner?” He looked so crushed, so very, very miserable, that her loving heart overflowed with sympathy and pity.  To look at that dear face, and see the wretchedness of gulf and remorse written there, wrung her heart beyond endurance, and brought the scalding tears to her eyes.  She threw her arms about his neck, and answered tenderly:  “You cannot be guilty in your daughter’s eyes; and if you appear so before the world, I will only love you the more for it, and help you to bear your grief, father.”  He sobbed aloud, and drew her closer to him.