In a Norwegian setting, a wealthy gentleman's daughter, Aslog, faces pressure to choose a suitor among many noble candidates. Secretly in love with the poor but noble Orm, she is forced to flee with him when her father threatens to choose a husband for her. They escape to a hidden cave in the mountains, living happily together until they are discovered. They take to the sea in a boat, eventually landing on an uninhabited island where they find a mysterious house. Inside, they discover everything prepared for them, and they spend a blissful summer there, culminating in the birth of their son. One day, an old woman named Guru appears, revealing she is the house's owner. She offers them prosperity but warns them against invoking the name of Christ or making the sign of the cross. During a festive night, Aslog, unable to resist, blesses her child, causing chaos and the departure of the magical beings. Guru, heartbroken, reveals that her husband has been turned to stone due to the name's utterance. She leaves them with the house and its treasures, and Orm later returns to the mainland, becoming wealthy. The stone figure remains on the island, a testament to their story, which is now known as House Island.
By Dinah Mulock · First published 1859 · Genre: Fiction, Drama, Adventure