his inward being。 From that moment； the merriment of the party was
at an end； they stood aghast； dreading lest the inauspicious sound
should be reverberated around the horizon； and that mountain would
thunder it to mountain； and so the horror be prolonged upon their
ears。 Then； whispering one to another that it was late… that the
moon was almost down… that the August night was growing chill… they
hurried homewards leaving the lime…burner and little Joe to deal as
they might with their unwelcome guest。 Save for these three human
beings； the open space on the hill…side was a solitude； set in a
vast gloom of forest。 Beyond that darksome verge； the fire…light
glimmered on the stately trunks and almost black foliage of pines；
intermixed with the lighter verdure of sapling oaks； maples； and
poplars； while here and there lay the gigantic corpses of dead
trees； decaying on the leaf…strewn soil。 And it seemed to little
Joe… a timorous and imaginative child… that the silent forest was
holding its breath； until some fearful thing should happen。
Ethan Brand thrust more wood into the fire； and closed the door
of the kiln； then looking over his shoulder at the lime…burner and his
son； he bade； rather than advised； them to retire to rest。
〃For myself； I cannot sleep；〃 said he。 〃I have matters that it
concerns me to meditate upon。 I will watch the fire； as I used to do
in the old time。〃
〃And call the devil out of the furnace to keep you company； I
suppose；〃 muttered Bartram； who had been making intimate
acquaintance with the black bottle above…mentioned。 〃But watch； if you
like； and call as many devils as you like！ For my part； I shall be all
the better for a snooze。 Come； Joe！〃
As the boy followed his father into the hut； he looked back at
the wayfarer； and the tears came into his eyes； for his tender
spirit had an intuition of the bleak and terrible loneliness in
which this man had enveloped himself。
When they had gone； Ethan Brand sat listening to the crackling of
the kindled wood； and looking at the little spirts of fire that issued
through the chinks of the door。 These trifles； however； once so
familiar； had but the slightest hold of his attention； while deep
within his mind he was reviewing the gradual but marvellous change
that had been wrought upon him by the search to which he had devoted
himself。 He remembered how the night dew had fallen upon him… how
the dark forest had whispered to him… how the stars had gleamed upon
him… a simple and loving man； watching his fire in the years gone
by； and ever musing as it burned。 He remembered with what
tenderness； with what love and sympathy for mankind； and what pity for
human guilt and woe； he had first begun to contemplate those ideas
which afterwards became the inspiration of his life； with what
reverence he had then looked into the heart of man； viewing it as a
temple originally divine； and； however desecrated； still to be held
sacred by a brother； with what awful fear he had deprecated the
success of his pursuit； and prayed that the Unpardonable Sin might
never be revealed to him。 Then ensued that vast intellectual
development； which； in its progress； disturbed the counterpoise
between his mind and heart。 The Idea that possessed his life had
operated as a means of education； it had gone on cultivating his
powers to the highest point of which they were susceptible； it had
raised him from the level of an unlettered laborer to stand on a
star…lit eminence； whither the philosophers of the earth； laden with
the lore of universities； might vainly strive to clamber after him。 So
much for the intellect！ But where was the heart？ That； indeed； had
withered… had contracted… had hardened… had perished！ It had ceased to
partake of the universal throb。 He had lost his hold of the magnetic
chain of humanity。 He was no longer a brother…man； opening the
chambers or the dungeons of our common nature by the key of holy
sympathy； which gave him a right to share in all its secrets； he was
now a cold observer； looking on mankind as the subject of his
experiment； and； at length； converting man and woman to be his
puppets； and pulling the wires that moved them to such degrees of
crime as were demanded for his study。
Thus Ethan Brand became a fiend。 He began to be so from the
moment that his moral nature had ceased to keep the pace of
improvement with his intellect。 And now； as his highest effort and
inevitable development… as the bright and gorgeous flower； and rich；
delicious fruit of his life's labor… he had produced the
Unpardonable Sin！
What more have I to seek？ What more to achieve？〃 said Ethan Brand
to himself。 〃My task is done； and well done！〃
Starting from the log with a certain alacrity in his gait； and
ascending the hillock of earth that was raised against the stone
circumference of the lime…kiln； he thus reached the top of the
structure。 It was a space of perhaps ten feet across； from edge to
edge； presenting a view of the upper surface of the immense mass of
broken marble with which the kiln was heaped。 All these innumerable
blocks and fragments of marble were red…hot and vividly on fire；
sending up great spouts of blue flame； which quivered aloft and danced
madly； as within a magic circle； and sank and rose again； with
continual and multitudinous activity。 As the lonely man bent forward
over this terrible body of fire； the blasting heat smote up against
his person with a breath that； it might be scorched and shrivelled him
up in a moment。
Ethan Brand stood erect； and raised his arms on high。 The blue
flames played upon his face； and imparted the wild and ghastly light
which alone could have suited its expression； it was that of a fiend
on the verge of plunging into his gulf of intensest torment。
〃O Mother Earth；〃 cried he； 〃who art no more my Mother； and into
whose bosom this frame shall never be resolved！ O mankind； whose
brotherhood I have cast off； and trampled thy great heart beneath my
feet！ O stars of heaven； that shone on me of old； as if to light me
onward and upward！… farewell all； and forever。 Come； deadly element of
Fire… henceforth my familiar friend！ Embrace me； as I do thee！〃
That night the sound of a fearful peal of laughter rolled heavily
through the sleep of the lime…burner and his little son； dim shapes of
horror and anguish haunted their dreams； and seemed still present in
the rude hovel； when they opened their eyes to the daylight。
〃Up； boy； up！〃 cried the lime…burner； staring about him。 〃Thank
Heaven； the night is gone； at last； and rather than pass such another；
I would watch my lime…kiln； wide awake； for a twelvemonth。 This
Ethan Brand； with his humbug of an Unpardonable Sin； has done me no
such mighty favor； in taking my place！〃
He issued from the hut； followed by little Joe； who kept fast
hold of his father's hand。 The early sunshine was already pouring
its gold upon the mountain…tops； and though the valleys were still
in shadow； they smiled cheerfully in the promise of the bright day
that was hastening onward。 The village； completely shut in by hills；
which swelled away gently about it； looked as if it had rested
peacefully in the hollow of the great hand of Providence。 Every
dwelling was distinctly visible； the little spires of the two churches
pointed upwards； and caught a fore…glimmering of brightness from the
sun…gilt skies upon their gilded weather…cocks。 The tavern was
astir； and the figure of the old； smoke…dried stage…agent； cigar in
mouth； was seen beneath the stoop。 Old Graylock was glorified with a
golden cloud upon his head。 Scattered likewise over the breasts of the
surrounding mountains； there were heaps of hoary mist； in fantastic
shapes； some of them far down into the valley； others high up
towards the summits and still others； of the same family of mist or
cloud； hovering in the gold radiance of the upper atmosphere。 Stepping
from one to another of the clouds that rested on the hills； and thence
to the loftier brotherhood that sailed in air； it seemed almost as
if a mortal man might thus ascend into the heavenly regions。 Earth was
so mingled with sky that it was a day…dream to look at it。
To supply that charm of the familiar and homely； which Nature so
readily adopts into a scene like this； the stage…coach was rattling
down the mountain…road； and the driver sounded his horn； while echo
caught up the notes； and intertwined them into a rich and varied and
elaborate harmony； of which the original performer could lay claim
to little share。 The great hills played a concert among themselves；
each contributing a strain of airy sweetness。
Little Joe's face brightened at once。
〃Dear father；〃 cried he； skipping cheerily to and fro； 〃that
strange man is gone； and the sky and the mountains all seem glad of
it！〃
〃Yes；〃 growled the lime…burner； with an oath； 〃but he has let the
fire go down； and no thanks to him if five hundred bushels of lime are
not spoiled。 If I catch the fellow hereabouts again； I shall feel like
tossing him into the furnace！〃
Wi