A moment, and there was a violent and terrible noise of swords torn quickly from their scabbards. The princess put out her hands beseechingly for him. But ’twas useless; fifty sword points were directed at his heart. Towards them he ran fearlessly, his warrior face--the old, good face--all-powerful now. Suddenly, a knight was beside Robert, fighting for him. Steadily this new combatant beat a way for the beleaguered knight, and at last regained for him and for himself free air and liberty. PART V.--THE REDEMPTION. “Bertram, thou must come with me. See, here is the cathedral; wilt thou not enter? The sanctuary is sacred, and none will dare try to move me from it. Come.” “So, thou brokest the mystic branch; thy heart failed thee.” “Oh, it should not fail me again.” “There is yet a means!” “Yet a means? Name it; I care not what--I will obey.” “Thou shalt sign a solemn pledge.” “Surely, Bertram, surely.” The white knight took a quivering paper, from his very bosom, as it seemed; dipped a reed in an ink horn at his side, and offered both to the young knight. As he was about to take them his hand trembled--not from fear, but because of a soft hymn which welled forth from the cathedral--a hymn of praise, sung by reverend old monks and faithful nuns. “What! dost thou again tremble?” “‘Tis the hymn my mother often sang to me in the days of my innocent childhood. Hark, again!” Yet once more the sacred sounds swept through the air, “Holy, holy, holy.” The white knight turned away and frowned; but as the sound died out he said, “Come, let us go. What, again thou tremblest?” “How gentle does this music make me. As I hear it I have no fear--feel no hate. Again, dear sounds, again.” Yet once more the hymn arose, “Holy, holy, holy!” “He would be free! What, shall all my hope be destroyed? Never!” “I am happy, I am happy!” “Wherefore? That thy rival is blest; that they offer up prayers for him?” “Again; again.” “Go also; kneel humbly--_humbly_; and pray for his welfare too! Go, coward.” The knight looked quickly at Bertram; gazed earnestly into his face; and, as the religious sounds again spread through the air, he cried out:-- “BERTRAM, THOU ART MY GREAT ENEMY!” (“Is there no mercy for me? I his enemy!) I thy enemy, Robert? Do I not love thee? Who supported thee in battle, whose arm hath been thine, who would lay all the riches of the world at thy feet? I, who am--” “Thou who art-“ “Dost thou remember the whisperings in thy home? Thy living father, who was changed, and thy mother’s woes? canst thou not guess my name?” The youth looked on the white knight for a moment; then, with a flood of tears, he was on his knees before this strange being; his arms around the white knight’s waist, and Bertram’s small white hands resting on his head. “Fear not; I will never leave thee!” Then Robert saw the face above him change. He turned quickly, and found Alice standing there. “Robert!”