"The Secret Tribunal."

awaited them , silently took possession of the three vacant scats . I he scene at this moment was rendered more vividly impressive by the braziers suddenly developing flames of a greenish hue . "Brethren of thc Wis . < endcn . Children of the Laud of the Red-Earth , bc seated , " said one of the aforesaid three . "In the names of the invincible Charlemagne and Henry the Lion , I proclaim this Frciding duly opened . Brother Assessor of tho Court , " hc continued , " hast thou duly conveyed to the accused

the citation of our mystic tribunal to appear and faco the charge ? ' " I have , Most Powerful Freigraf . " answered a voice . " What said he ? " was the next question . " That he would obey the dread commands of the Court , " was the reply . "Is he here ? " continued the Freigraf , or President . "He is . " returned the Assessor .

At . this sta ;» e of the proceedings a young man was brought m , closely guarded by two of the masked fraternity . He was deadly pale , and he glanced apprehensively and nervously around the assembly . The astonishment of Goetze and his assistants was extreme when they recognised iu the accused the features of a well-known resident of Osnabriick , one Herr von Konigsboru , the son of a sister of Herr von Weber ' s .

"Brother Accuser , stand up and prefer fearlessly and without malice your charge against this man and brother , " said the President of the Court . " Most Powerful Freigraf , Deputies , and Brethren of the Wissenden , " he commenced , "I have to charge the accused Frederich von Konigsboru , a member of our order , that he did in the early morning of the thirtieth of October last pasl assassinate in cold blood his cousin , Herr Conrad von Weber . "

At this juncture a deep groan proceeded from one of the cowled figures in the body of the Court . The accused started violently when this awful charge was made , and his features twitched convulsively as he hoarsely demanded" Who arc ye that dares thus to impeach me of the crime ? " " Most Powerful Freigraf , am I to answer that question now ? * ' asked the

accuser . " Yon may , " was the reply . " "Know then , Frederich von Konigsboru , that T am the brother of the Friinlein Augusta Wallenstein , who was the betrothed wife of ( he man I say you killed . You loved her after a fashion , bat she declined your attentions , as she favoured the suit of your cousin . On ( he evening in question you and he had met at mv father ' s house ; yonr jealousy got the belter of your discretion ,

angry words followed , and you left him with revenge burning in your heart . Three hours afterwards the body of the poor youth lay in the highway , his happy career , his bright hopes , his noble life most foully destroyed by gnu , his relative , his playmate in childhood , and his fellow student in later days . Suspicion , however , did not fall upon you . Your uncle and others believed that ( he youngman was slain in resisting an attack by robbers . " " Frederich von Konigsboru , ' what hast thou to say to this ? " sternly interposed the President of the Court .

"Most powerful Freigraf , " and here the accused bowed profoundly , 'I admit that on the night mentioned by Herr Wallenstein I quarrelled with my cousin Conrad , and that I left him angrily , bat I deny all knowledge of the tragic fate that subsequently befell him . I can bring witnesses to prove that 1 was within doors , some distance from the spot at the time his death-cry was heard by the Watch . " "Hereafter you shall have an opportunity , according to our laws , of calling those witnesses , " ' said thc President . " Proceed , Urother Accuser . "

"A few weeks ago , " resumed the individual so named , ' one of our emissaries accidentall y overheard a conversation between Johann Goetze , chief constable of Osnabriick , ' and Joachim Weigell , the armourer , that aroused his suspicions . They were discussing the origin of a curious dagger , with a strange device engraved thereon , which was in the possession of Goetze . The weapon , ns our

brother then learnt , had been found near Ihe body , but . this fact the chief of the watch , for some unaccountable reason known only to himself , did not mention at , the judicial enquiry . If you remember , the ehirugeon who examined the remains gave evidence before the authorities that , in his opinion , the wound had hen inflicted by a long pointed poignard or dagger . " "Thill is so , '' assented the President .

•• . Most Powerful Freigraf , before proceeding further with my arraignment . I have now , with your permission , and in the name of the lfnhj Fern , to demand the accused to produce the penal symbol of our Order , in I am prepared to do . " The President having given n ' gostnre of assent , the speaker placed his hand wilhin the folds of his habit , and drew forth a dagger . Goetze and his assistants , during t lie foregoing proceedings , felt very uneasy , and , it must be recorded , regretted lhat they had embarked in the adventure . The former , however , had made up his mind not to disturb the secret trial , but

to quietly wait fill the actors in it had all departed , when he devoutly hoped lo be able , undetected , to regain the forest . Whether or not he should make known what he anil his colleagues had seen , would be a mailer for serious consideration . It was evident that the Court wns constituted liy men holding high jiositions . and heshuddered when he thought of the omens of his crony . Joachim . . Vo sinner had th * accuser dr . iw . i his weapan , tlrm a startling incid'iil happened . The Freijrtf given signal with his hand , a gong sounded , and the whole Court arose , aad each tii'mher hranished a dag'er in the air . This simul-

"The Secret Tribunal."

taneous action produced a- strange effect , not only on the threo eavesdroppers but upon the accused , whoso faco looked ghastly in its terror . "Frederich von Konigsboru , why dost thou nofc produce tint weapon ? " sternl y demanded the President . " Mosfc Powerful Freigraf , I havo it not , " was the answer given in trembling tones . " What explanation canst thou givo for attending this Freisluhl without it ?" was the next question .

" It was stolen from mo throe weeks ago . I can prove that I mentioned my loss to my servitor . Karl , " replied thc accused . "True and yet false , thou recreant , " exclaimed Herr Wallenstein , in tones of thunder . "The naked weapon thou leftsfc in the breast of th y victim , only the sheath remained in thy possession , and that sheath three weeks ago was secretly secured by me for purposes of this enquiry . If thou still plcadest innocence in the face of this damning proof of thy guiltiness , I will relate to tho Court by what inferences I arrived at the conclusion that the weapon in the cusfodv of Goetze wns thine . "

The speaker thereupon drew forth the scabbtu-d , and passed ifc on to the President for evnmination .

"Accused , what hast thou to say to this ? " austerely asked tho Freigraf , and the cowled heads of the assembled fraternity were turned towards the wretched man . For a few moments he did not answer , but stared vacantly around him , then suddenly , and with an imploring gesture , he ( lung himself upon his knees acknowledged his guilt , aud abjoctcdly begged for mercy . Holding up his hand to command silence , the President , in measured tones of scveritv , said :

Frederich von Konigsboru , ( hon hast been charged with the crime of slaying , in cold blood , one who should have been most dear to thee , as ho was most closely allied to thee in consanguinity . Thou hast admitted thy awful guilt , and thou now ask'st the Frciding to extend to thee its forgiveness . " When thou wert admitted a member of the Witsentlen thou earnest to us vouched for by thy uncle , ( he father of thy victim , who is hereto-day , and and whose benevolent heo-t must bleed to know that thc . - > whom he cherished almost as a son

should have destroyed the first-horn of his houso , the gallant and lovable Conrad von Weber . As I desire to mercifully spare thy feelings as much as possible , I will not recall to thy mind the full obligation thou didst take on the night of thy induction . Sullice it to say , that thou didst solemnly swear as a man of unblemished reputation , a good Christian , and a hater of oppression in all its phases to uphold the Holy Fein against its enemies . That thou would ' sfc most religiously conceal its tenets and its dread secrets from father and

mother , from brother and sister , from the wife of th y bosom , from th y offspring , from all that the glorious sun shines upon , or the rain moistens , and from everything that is between the bright vault , of heaven and the gloomy recesses of the earth . Finally thou didst pledge thvself to aid the weak , io defend with thy life Iho oppressed , and in every way to support iruth , virtue , and the inspired teachings of the Holy Nazarene . This obligation thou didst seal with thy lips upon the ring that tradition sayeth belonged to ( he

Great Charlemagne , and inscribed in the Latin tongue with the phrase " Vindce injuria ' . " How hast thou maintained that solemn pledge ? Thou dost not answer . Hrethren of the Wissenden , Children of the Land of the lted-Karth , and here ' the ( ones of the powerful voice of the speaker echoed through the huge cavern , "what punishment does he deserve who has thus broken his obligation alike to ttwl and uv . w , wlmlins lifted bis v-ownvd band against an innocent youth , and moreover slain him by a weapon hearing the sacred symbol of our brotherhood . What shall be his fate ? Tn this Hall of Judgment I charge ve all , aud on the oaths ve

have taken , fo speak fearlessly . "Death by the rope of a Freischiilfe , " thundered , ns if with one voice , the vast assembly . ' ' ' * So be it , " calmly said the President , then turning to the condemned man who apparently had regained his composure . " Frederich vou Ki ' migshorn , for IK hours thou wilt be watched day and night by certain of the Freisehdu ' en . During which brief time I exhort thee to reflect upon thy sins and to pray for forgiveness . At ihe expiration of those hours be prepared for dissolution .

Without , a word the unhappy mail , whose pallid luce bore au expression pitiful to behold in its subdued anguish , bowed submissively to the Freigraf , and , escorted by t wo of the fraternity , quietly left flic Court . The President and his Deputies on the dais then proceeded to enrrv out , certain mystic celebrations . He then advanced , and in a loud voice said " In the names of the valiant and noble Charlemagne ihe Great and Henrv the Lion , I declare this secret tribunal of the Frriding closed . Brethren of the Wissenden , go forth from this Freistiihl , and carry deeply impressed in your hearts the doom justlv meted ( o the recreant who has broken his vows . "

Al this instant the gong before-mentioned wns struck three times iu quick succession , and by the disturbed movements of ( he hitherto dignified asseniblv , the ollicers from their concealment became aware that something alarming hail occurred . They were not left long in suspense as to ihe cause of t he agitation . * ' Most I'owerful /*'/* ix'jrufA" cried a cowled figure rushing iu . " our meeting placo has been discovered . Our sterols are known . Our lluly Fan has been desecraied , " " What mean ve . " demanded the President .

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