The church authorities are beginning to trouble us again. Our priest is
not sufficiently orthodox; they wish to close his church.
The church which we have built with the sweat of our brows!
It is quiet enough there now; Father Paul conducts the service in the
sick-rooms and in the cemetery. The people are coming to the parish
church in coffins. The epidemic is now called "the death." The school
has been closed for months.
The report is going about that the priest is to blame for the sickness,
on account of having forbidden the brandy, for that is the surest means
of preventing contagion.
Hannes is on the alert, and now his pride is aroused against the priest,
whose cunning and gentleness so entirely vanquished him a few weeks ago.
It is an everlasting combat with fate and evil. He who perseveres in
the struggle and satisfies his inner conviction, shall reach the goal.