THERE was once a young soldier who fought bravely but was dismissed when peace came. With no home or family to turn to, he wandered into a vast heath. As he despaired over his fate, a strange man in a green coat with a cloven foot appeared—the Devil. He offered the soldier endless wealth in exchange for a seven-year pact: the soldier must not wash, comb his hair, cut his nails, or pray. He would wear a magical green coat (with pockets always full of money) and a bearskin as his cloak and bed. If he died within seven years, his soul would belong to the Devil; if he survived, he would be free and rich forever.
The soldier agreed. As the years passed, his appearance became monstrous—filthy, hairy, and clawed. People fled from him, but he used his wealth to help the poor, who prayed for his survival, and thus he always found shelter.
In the fourth year, he helped a destitute old man by paying his debts. Grateful, the old man offered him one of his three beautiful daughters in marriage. The two eldest sisters were horrified by Bearskin's appearance and rejected him. The youngest, however, honored her father's promise, saying, "A man who helped you must be good." Overjoyed, Bearskin gave her half of a broken ring as a token and left to complete his seven years, asking her to pray for him.
The faithful bride waited, dressed in black and enduring her sisters' mockery. Meanwhile, Bearskin traveled the world, doing good deeds.
When the seven years ended, Bearskin returned to the heath. The Devil, forced to clean and groom him, restored his handsome appearance. Bearskin then went to claim his bride, arriving as a splendid stranger in a velvet coat and carriage. Unrecognized, he was welcomed by the father and the two eager elder sisters. Alone with the youngest, he dropped his half of the ring into her wine glass. She matched it with her half, and he revealed his true identity. They embraced joyfully.
Enraged with jealousy, the two elder sisters killed themselves. That evening, the Devil returned, claiming, "See, I have now got two souls in the place of thy one!"