Chapter CXCIII: Act III: But Damian is not only stupid, he is also a miserable

coward. That is shown as it now behooves him to defend _Baron von Schönau's_ castle against the revolted peasants. The knights there would have been lost had not relief suddenly come. It is _Werner_ who arrives with a troop of country people. _Maria_ flees to her lover's arms. But alas, he is wounded in the arm. And what is that? That mole? The old _Countess Wildenstein_ recognizes in the trumpeter her son, whom the gypsies once stole. Now naturally there is nothing in the way of the union. Now "young _Werner_ is the happiest man" and who can deny that "Love and trumpet sounds are very useful, good things."

DER EVANGELIMANN

THE EVANGELIST

Music-drama in two acts by Wilhelm Kienzl; text by the
composer after a tale by L.F. Meissner. Produced: Berlin,
May 4, 1895.

CHARACTERS

FRIEDRICH ENGEL _Bass_
MARTHA, his niece _Soprano_
MAGDALENA, her friend _Alto_
JOHANNES FREUDHOFER, teacher at
St. Othmar's _Baritone_
MATTHIAS FREUDHOFER, his brother,
actuary in a monastery _Tenor_
ZITTERBART, a tailor and other artisans _Tenor_

Act I. The feelings in the breast of _Johannes Freudhofer_, the teacher, do not correspond to the peaceful spectacle of the monastery of the Benedictine Abbey of St. Othmar. He is filled with a savage jealousy of his own brother, _Matthias_, who is actuary in the monastery, because he sees that the affections of _Martha_, the beautiful niece of _Engel_, the steward of the monastery, are denied him. He thinks to injure his brother when he betrays the latter's love to the haughty steward. And the latter actually dismisses _Matthias_ from his office. But with this _Johannes_ has not attained his object. For he himself can spy on them and see the two plighting eternal faithfulness on his secret departure. So the treacherous man resolved upon the complete ruin of the lovers. He sets fire to the monastery. _Matthias_, who is tarrying in the arbour beside his sweetheart hurries out to get help, but is seized by the other as the incendiary out of revenge.