The selections in this division are cut, condensed, and adapted for practical use as dramas or monologues. In some cases lines of the text as well as explanations are written in to connect the scenes for clearer unity. For scenes from Shakespeare and readings from the Bible, already universally printed and accessible, see the indexes and directions as to the omissions of lines in various cuttings in Fulton and Trueblood's "Choice Readings," published by Messrs. Ginn & Company. THE BELLS HENRY L. WILLIAMS ACT III, SCENE I CHARACTERS: Hans Matthis, keeper of "the Merry Andrew"; Dr. Frantz, the magnetizer; the Judge. SCENE: Alsatia, in a hamlet at the foot of the mountains; Christmas, 1868; a room in an inn. Matthis, a prosperous burgomaster, recalls with friends the murder of a Polish Jew, fifteen years before. He wonders that the murderer has never been apprehended. The sound of sleigh bells is heard and the apparition of the Jew appears. Matthis is prostrated by the incident and consults a mesmerist, Dr. Frantz, who assures him that he has power to compel a criminal to divulge his secret thought. Matthis isolates himself and sleeps alone to avoid eavesdropping. On the night of his daughter's wedding he makes payment of her dowry, and as the money is laid on the table a sleigh bell falls from among the gold coins. He seeks his own room, falls asleep and dreams that he is before the court and that Dr. Frantz is mesmerizing him. _Enter_ MATTHIS MAT. Happy fellow! happy fellows all of them! A man may play against fate if he only prepares his cards--I hold none but good ones in my hand. Ha, ha! They have their skins full of my best wine, and go home happy as kings. Ha, ha! there'll be some funny flounderings in the snow before they reach home. It's singular what magic is melted into wine--one draught, and all the clouds are sunshine. It's dark! it's very dark--and, though the wind has fallen, the fine snow sweeps down the road like a train of phantoms. All is well! You may shake hands with yourself, Hans Matthis! you have triumphed over both the world and Heaven! I am so sleepy! If I rest here a--a moment? Ah! One is always drowsy in cold weather. No one can hear me if I speak--in a dream--no one--the Jew!--dreams, nonsense! [_Sleeps_.] _Enter_ DR. FRANTZ _and the_ JUDGE DR. F. My lord, it is the will of this tribunal which leads me here, not mine. JUDGE. Can you place that man in the mesmeric sleep? DR. F. I can. But he is strong-willed, and the task may be hard. MAT. No, no! I have no fear. [_Shudders; aside_.] Matthis, if you fall asleep you will be lost! DR. F. [_to_ MATTHIS]. I will that you should sleep! [_Makes magnetic passes while looking at_ MATTHIS.] MAT. No, no! DR. F. It is my will. He sleeps. What must I ask? JUDGE. What he did on Christmas Eve, fifteen years ago.