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THE " SEVEN MOUNTAINS."

At the time when Christianity was beginning to be diffusedalong the left bank of the Rhine there reigned within theforests on the opposite shore two princes, Rinbod andHorsrik, who were powerful warriors. Excited by the prieststo bitter enmity against all those who had become converts tothe ncw and benevolent creed of the Saviour, they often crossedthe river to attack the Christians there, and never failed toreturn with a considerable number of prisoners, as offerings totheir Dragon God.

Now one day the two princes, after a fierce onslaught uponthe people of the opposite bank, were dividing their booty andprisoners, as usual, when there chanced to be among the lattera beautiful Christian maiden. Rinbod was so charmed withher youth and graces, that he demanded her as his share ofthe spoil; while Horsrik, who was not less enamoured withher exquisite beauty, claimed her as Ins portion. Whereuponthere arose a serious dissension between the chiefs, and thehasty Horsrik had already raised his spear, when the high-priest interposed and stopped the feud, saying:

" A daughter of these Christians, whom we detest anddespise, shoiild not destroy the amity of our princes;" sohe decreed that she should belong to neither Rinbod norHorsrik, but should be offered up to the Dragon on themorrow, in honour of their great god Woden.

The authority of the priest was supreme in those times,lience all remonstrance was vain. Rinbod, nevertheless, feitfor the maiden a more noble love than his fierce rival, andwould willingly have risked bis life to save her.

Tho wretched girl, when she heard the fate that awaitedher, was overcome with horror and dismay ; nevertheless, aftera time, she was consoled and fortified by the thought that itwas the will of God it should be so, and accordingly preparedto surrender herseif without a murmur to the decision.