"Wilhelm is not my son, nor is he kin to either of us, but is the heir
of the greatest enemy of our house, Count Herbert of Schonburg. I lured
him from his father's home as a child and now send him back as a man.
Some time later I shall acquaint the Count with the fact that the young
man he captured is his only son."

The girl looked at her uncle, her eyes wide with horror.

"It is your purpose then that the father shall execute his own son?"

The Outlaw shrugged his shoulders.

"The result lies not with me, but with the Count. He was once a
crusader and the teaching of his master is to the effect that the
measure he metes to others, the same shall be meted to him, if I
remember aright the tenets of his faith. Count Herbert wreaking
vengeance upon my supposed son, is really bringing destruction upon his
own, which seems but justice. If he show mercy to me and mine, he is
bestowing the blessed balm thereof on himself and his house. In this
imperfect world, few events are ordered with such admirable equity as
the capture of young Lord Wilhelm, by that haughty and bloodthirsty
warrior, his father. Let us then await with patience the outcome,
taking care not to interfere with the designs of Providence."

"The design comes not from God but from the evil one himself."

"It is within the power of the Deity to overturn even the best plans of
the fiend, if it be His will. Let us see to it that we do not intervene
between two such ghostly potentates, remembering that we are but puny