
CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER X.
A tranquil lake glistens beneath a bright sun, its mirror‑like surface reflecting a charming lakeside town framed by distant snow‑capped peaks. Along the shore, a modest yet elegant cottage stands, its white walls and green shutters softened by a vine‑traced veranda and a carefully tended garden that reaches toward the water. The scene feels both peaceful and slightly nostalgic, inviting listeners into a world where nature and genteel society coexist.
On this veranda two men walk and talk—an aging doctor whose lined face still holds a fierce, unquenched fire, and his younger companion, George Winterfeld, a thoughtful, determined scholar with earnest blue eyes. Their conversation hints at a looming conflict: George’s impending return to a harsh regime ruled by the iron‑fisted Baron von Raven, where even a friendly visit could be deemed a crime. As the doctor warns of the price of defiance, the listener senses the weight of duty, loyalty, and the fragile hope of resistance that will shape the young man’s path.
Language
en
Duration
~11 hours (665K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive
Release date
2011-01-28
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1838–1918
Best known for publishing under the name E. Werner, this German novelist wrote popular, emotionally driven fiction that reached a wide readership in the late 19th century. Her books often appeared first in serial form, helping make her a familiar name to magazine readers of the time.
View all books
by E. Werner

by E. Werner

by E. Werner

by E. Werner

by E. Werner

by E. Werner

by E. Werner

by E. Werner