Then saw I tongues of fire spring up and lick Around my youthful dreams and artist hopes, Reducing all to dust and nothingness. Thereafter rose another pictured form From out that drear and dreadful nothingness-- A human form, which once had linked its fate In faithful love with mine in days long past. She sought to hold me by her when I turned Long years ago unto my home again, Called to attend my mother's funeral rites. I heeded not, but tore myself away. For mighty was the power that drew me here To this thy circle and the goals of life Which here are set before our eager gaze. In those dark days I felt no sense of guilt When I did rend in twain the bond of love, That was unto another soul its life. Nor later when the message came to me How that her life did slowly pine away, And finally was altogether quenched Did I feel aught of guilt until today; But full of meaning were those recent words In yonder chamber which our leader spake; How that we may destroy by power misused And perverse thought the destiny of those Whom bonds of loving trust link to our souls. Ah, hideously these words again resound Out of the picture, thence re-echoing With ghastly repetition from all sides: 'Her murderer thou art! her hast thou slain!' Thus whilst this weighty speech hath been for all The motive to probe deep within themselves, Within my heart it hath brought forth alone The consciousness of this most grievous guilt. By this new means of sight I can perceive How far astray my striving footsteps erred. MARIA: And at this moment, friend, in dark domains Thou walkest, and none else can help thee there, Save he, in whom we all do put our trust. (Maria is called away; re-enter Helena.) HELENA: I feel constrained to linger by thy side A little while; since now for many weeks Thy gaze hath held so much of grief and care. How can the light, which streams so radiantly Bring gloom unto thy soul, which only strives With utmost strength to seek and know the truth? JOHANNES: Hath then this light brought naught but joy to thee? HELENA: Not the same joy as that which once I knew, But that new joy which springeth from those words, Through which the spirit doth reveal itself. JOHANNES: Natheless I tell thee that the self-same power, Which doth in thee create, can also crush. HELENA: