Salvor.—­There will not be any want of bandages. (She embraces HELGA, half weeping.) Let the chieftains make peace, lady!

Helga.—­That would amount to humbling my husband! (Seats herself on her chair on the dais.) Bishop Botolf has promised to sit with us in the hall here to-night; have two tapers, large and thick, placed on the table in front of the high seat.

(EINAR THE RICH enters hurriedly and runs up on the dais.  He lays his head on the knees of LADY HELGA.  SALVOR shrieks in fright.)

Einar.—­I am bringing you my head, lady!

Helga.—­Why shriek so, Salvor?—­Who are you?

Einar.—­I am Einar of Vik.

Helga.—­Good is your gift, and I shall gladly accept it!  Salvor!  Ask Asbjorn Illugason to come here.  I desire that he shall behead Einar the Rich. (Exit SALVOR.)

Einar (quickly takes THOROLF’S ring from his arm).—­Spare my life; for God’s sake, mercy, mercy, mercy!

Helga.—­You shall obtain the same mercy as did Thorolf Bjarnason!

Einar.—­Do you know this ring, lady?

Helga (attentively looking at the ring).—­That ring I know; did you steal it from the body of Thorolf?

Einar.—­Steal?  As rich a man as I am?  No, Thorolf bade me give you this ring, lady, with this message——­

Helga (approaching him, eagerly).—­What message?  What message?  Was that just before he was slain?

Einar.—­Yes, just before that!

Helga.—­And the message?  Are you tongue-tied?

Einar.—­That I should be spared, life and limb, although I had been among his assailants.

Helga.—­Did Thorolf mention any others to be spared beside you?

Einar.—­No, none!

Helga.—­The ring is the right sign.  If Thorolf has forgiven you, why should I not do likewise? (Leads him out.) Wait here in that corner; I shall spare you.

Asbjorn (comes in hurriedly).—­Are you in danger, lady?

Helga.—­No.  A man’s life was given me which I did not wish to take, though.

Asbjorn.—­I feared it might be some attack by Broddi and his men.

Helga.—­Broddi will soon become peacefully inclined. (Enter KOLBEIN THE YOUNG, BISHOP BOTOLF in his pontifical robes, HAF, and SALVOR, bearing two big, stout tapers which are lit.  The hall becomes half filled with armed men.)

Botolf.—­Pax tecum, filia!

Helga (bows before the bishop and leads him to the higher seat of honor).—­Be seated on this higher seat of honor this evening, my lord.  To-morrow an army of my husband’s will accompany you to Holar and re-establish you in your see, as soon as we shall have driven from thence Broddi’s and Brand’s troop of rebels.