“While thou,” continued the high priest, “wert building here this temple, he, as thou knowest, did undertake a foray ’gainst the Finns. Within their borders, on a barren mountain-peak there stood an ancient temple of the heathen Jumala. It was closed and abandoned, and none for many years had ever crossed its threshold. Above the portal, tottering to its fall as it appeared, was placed an idol of the god, and an old tradition handed down from sire to sire said, whoever first should enter in the temple should Jumala behold. No sooner did Helge hear this than, blind with rage, he scaled the barren steep, bent on destroying the hated deity’s abode. He found the key still in the door, thick covered o’er with rust. Grasping the moss-grown posts he shook them fiercely, and thereupon, with tremendous crash, down plunged the image of the heathen god; and thus did Helge view the dreaded Jumala. “Now Halfdan rules alone. Give him thy hand, brave Frithiof. Sacrifice thy hatred in this holy shrine. Thus saith Balder, and I his high priest this demand of thee. Refuse, and vain will be thy efforts to avert his godlike wrath.” Here Halfdan entered through the doorway and with doubtful glance lingered on the threshold of the temple. But Frithiof unbuckled Angurvadel from his side and placed it with his shield against the altar. Unarmed he approached his enemy and said kindly: “In this strife he is noblest who first doth offer his hand in pledge of peace.” Flushing deeply, Halfdan doffed his iron gauntlet, and with a firm hand-clasp the two heroes sealed their reconciliation. Now the high priest removed the curse that had rested on Frithiof since the burning of the temple, and as he joyfully raised his head, no longer an outlaw, lo! Ingeborg entered, radiant in her bridal garments and robed in royal ermine. With tears in her beautiful eyes, she sank trembling in her brother’s arms, but Halfdan tenderly transferred his burden to Frithiof’s faithful breast; and kneeling before the altar of the pardoning Balder, with joined hands the long-parted lovers sealed their nuptial vows. LIFE STORIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE _Translated from the German by George P. Upton_ _16 Volumes Ready_ Beethoven Mozart Bach Haydn Maid of Orleans The Little Dauphin Frederick the Great Maria Theresa William of Orange Barbarossa William Tell The Swiss Heroes Hermann and Thusnelda Gudrun The Nibelungs The Frithiof Saga _Each, illustrated, 60 cents net_ A. C. McCLURG & CO., CHICAGO LIFE STORIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE _BIOGRAPHICAL ROMANCES TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN BY_ GEORGE P. UPTON _A new, interesting, and very useful series that will be found especially suitable for school libraries and for supplementary reading_