Papa dear! Speak, one word! [_Throws herself down at his right_.] HEFFTERDINGT. Get the doctor, Max. MAX. Is it a stroke? HEFFTERDINGT. I think so. [_Exit_ Max. _Aside to_ Magda.] Come to him. [_As she hesitates_.] Come; it is the end. [_Leads her trembling to_ Schwartze's _chair_.] MRS. SCHWARTZE. [_Who has tried to take the pistol_.] Let it go, Leopold; what do you want with it? See, he's holding the pistol and won't let it go. HEFFTERDINGT. [_Aside_.] It is the convulsion. He cannot. My dear old friend, can you understand what I'm saying to you? [Schwartze _bows his head a little_. Magda _sinks down at his left_.] God, the All-Merciful One, has called you from on high. You are not her judge. Have you no sign of forgiveness for her? [Schwartze _shakes his head slowly_.] MARIE. [_Sinking down by_ Magda.] Papa, give her your blessing, dear papa! [_A smile transfigures his face. The pistol escapes from his hand. He raises his hand slowly to place it on_ Marie's _head. In the midst of this motion a spasm goes through his body. His arm falls back, his head sinks_.] MRS. SCHWARTZE. [_Crying out_.] Leopold! HEFFTERDINGT. [_Taking her hand_.] He has gone home. [_He folds his hands. Silent prayer, broken by the sobbing of the women_.] MAGDA. [_Springing up and spreading out her arms in agony_.] Oh, if I had only never come! [Heffterdingt _makes a motion to beg her silence. She misunderstands_.] Are you going to drive me away? His life was the cost of my coming. May I not stay now? HEFFTERDINGT. [_Simply and peacefully_. ] No one will hinder you from praying upon his grave. [_Curtain falls slowly_.] THE END. FOOTNOTE: [Footnote 1: Without which officers in the German army may not marry.]