STEIN.

Lindenschmied killed Godfrey?  And my Robert—­

ANDREW.

Robert was pursuing him.  He compelled Robert to shoot him.

FORESTER.

He?  He had your gun?

ANDREW.

Stolen it with my muffler.

FORESTER.

And Robert did—­

ANDREW.

Lindenschmied was not mortally wounded.  I had his wound dressed in the mill, and had him removed before the magistrate—­

FORESTER (gradually collapsing).

I am in the wrong!

[Sinks down upon a chair.]

ANDREW.

That is the reason why I am so late.

FORESTER (rises; goes to STEIN with his gun in his hand).

Stein, do to me according to my desert.

STEIN.

What do you mean?

FORESTER.

“Eye for eye, tooth for tooth”—­

STEIN (looking at the PASTOR).

What does he mean by that again?

FORESTER.

Weiler thought that Lindenschmied with the gun was my Andrew.  Your
Robert wounded Lindenschmied, and I—­killed your Robert for this!

PASTOR.

Almighty God!

ANDREW (at the same time).

Robert!

FORESTER (almost simultaneously).

Shoot me!

STEIN (has seized the gun).

You murderer!

[The PASTOR arrests his arm.]

ANDREW.

You shot Robert, father?  Robert lives!

STEIN.

He lives?

PASTOR.

He lives?

FORESTER.

He lives?

ANDREW.

He lives, as surely as I live!

FORESTER.

It was only a dream?  Can it be that I am not a murderer?  That I am an honorable man?

PASTOR.

That you are, Ulrich.  Drive away that unfortunate delusion.

STEIN.

Man alive, to what might you have provoked me!

[Puts away the gun.]

FORESTER.

You saw him?  When did you see him, Andrew?  Now, Andrew?  Just now, Andrew?

ANDREW.

Just now, as I was coming home, I met two men from the mill with a stretcher.  Robert had just called them out of their beds; they were going to the Dell; Robert had gone ahead of them.

FORESTER.

To the Dell?

PASTOR.

With a stretcher?

STEIN.

What can be behind all this?

FORESTER (has gone to the door of MARY’S room; releases the latch).

Thanks be to God!

[Listening.]

I hear her breathing.  Oh, she sleeps a peaceful sleep.  I am oppressed with a world of cares, and she takes them from my heart with her breath.  Do you hear, Pastor, do you hear?

STEIN.

The unfortunate man!  His delusion is returning.