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act to have proceeded not from a heavenly prompter； but from human
treachery！ Will not his rage mount into whirlwind？ Will not he
tear limb from limb this devoted wretch？
Instinctively I recoiled from this image； but it gave place to
another。 Carwin may be innocent； but the impetuosity of his judge
may misconstrue his answers into a confession of guilt。 Wieland
knows not that mysterious voices and appearances were likewise
witnessed by me。 Carwin may be ignorant of those which misled my
brother。 Thus may his answers unwarily betray himself to ruin。
Such might be the consequences of my frantic precipitation； and
these it was necessary； if possible； to prevent。 I attempted to
speak； but Wieland； turning suddenly upon me； commanded silence； in
a tone furious and terrible。 My lips closed； and my tongue refused
its office。
〃What art thou？〃 he resumed； addressing himself to Carwin。 〃Answer
me： whose formwhose voice；was it thy contrivance？ Answer me。〃
The answer was now given； but confusedly and scarcely articulated。
〃I meant nothingI intended no illif I understandif I do not
mistake youit is too trueI did appearin the entrydid speak。
The contrivance was mine； but〃
These words were no sooner uttered； than my brother ceased to wear
the same aspect。 His eyes were downcast； he was motionless； his
respiration became hoarse； like that of a man in the agonies of
death。 Carwin seemed unable to say more。 He might have easily
escaped； but the thought which occupied him related to what was
horrid and unintelligible in this scene； and not to his own danger。
Presently the faculties of Wieland； which； for a time； were chained
up； were seized with restlessness and trembling。 He broke silence。
The stoutest heart would have been appalled by the tone in which he
spoke。 He addressed himself to Carwin：
〃Why art thou here？ Who detains thee？ Go and learn better。 I
will meet thee； but it must be at the bar of thy Maker。 There
shall I bear witness against thee。〃
Perceiving that Carwin did not obey； he continued； 〃Dost thou wish
me to complete the catalogue by thy death？ Thy life is a worthless
thing。 Tempt me no more。 I am but a man； and thy presence may
awaken a fury which may spurn my control。 Begone！〃
Carwin； irresolute； striving in vain for utterance； his complexion
pallid as death； his knees beating one against another； slowly
obeyed the mandate and withdrew。
II
A few words more and I lay aside the pen forever。 Yet why should I
not relinquish it now？ All that I have said is preparatory to this
scene； and my fingers； tremulous and cold as my heart； refuse any
further exertion。 This must not be。 Let my last energies support
me in the finishing of this task。 Then will I lay down my head in
the lap of death。 Hushed will be all my murmurs in the sleep of
the grave。
Every sentiment has perished in my bosom。 Even friendship is
extinct。 Your love for me has prompted me to this task； but I
would not have complied if it had not been a luxury thus to feast
upon my woes。 I have justly calculated upon my remnant of
strength。 When I lay down the pen the taper of life will expire；
my existence will terminate with my tale。
Now that I was left alone with Wieland； the perils of my situation
presented themselves to my mind。 That this paroxysm should
terminate in havoc and rage it was reasonable to predict。 The
first suggestion of my fears had been disproved by my experience。
Carwin had acknowledged his offenses； and yet had escaped。 The
vengeance which I had harbored had not been admitted by Wieland；
and yet the evils which I had endured； compared with those
inflicted on my brother； were as nothing。 I thirsted for his
blood； and was tormented with an insatiable appetite for his
destruction； but my brother was unmoved； and had dismissed him in
safety。 Surely thou wast more than man； while I am sunk below the
beasts。
Did I place a right construction on the conduct of Wieland？ Was
the error that misled him so easily rectified？ Were views so vivid
and faith so strenuous thus liable to fading and to change？ Was
there not reason to doubt the accuracy of my perceptions？ With
images like these was my mind thronged； till the deportment of my
brother called away my attention。
I saw his lips move and his eyes cast up to heaven。 Then would he
listen and look back； as if in expectation of some one's
appearance。 Thrice he repeated these gesticulations and this
inaudible prayer。 Each time the mist of confusion and doubt seemed
to grow darker and to settle on his understanding。 I guessed at
the meaning of these tokens。 The words of Carwin had shaken his
belief； and he was employed in summoning the messenger who had
formerly communed with him； to attest the value of those new
doubts。 In vain the summons was repeated； for his eye met nothing
but vacancy； and not a sound saluted his ear。
He walked to the bed； gazed with eagerness at the pillow which had
sustained the head of the breathless Catharine； and then returned
to the place where I sat。 I had no power to lift my eyes to his
face： I was dubious of his purpose； this purpose might aim at my
life。
Alas！ nothing but subjection to danger and exposure to temptation
can show us what we are。 By this test was I now tried； and found
to be cowardly and rash。 Men can deliberately untie the thread of
life； and of this I had deemed myself capable。 It was now that I
stood upon the brink of fate； that the knife of the sacrificer was
aimed at my heart； I shuddered； and betook myself to any means of
escape； however monstrous。
Can I bear to thinkcan I endure to relate the outrage which my
heart meditated？ Where were my means of safety？ Resistance was
vain。 Not even the energy of despair could set me on a level with
that strength which his terrific prompter had bestowed upon
Wieland。 Terror enables us to perform incredible feats； but terror
was not then the state of my mind： where then were my hopes of
rescue？
Methinks it is too much。 I stand aside； as it were； from myself； I
estimate my own deservings； a hatred； immortal and inexorable； is
my due。 I listen to my own pleas； and find them empty and false：
yes； I acknowledge that my guilt surpasses that of mankind； I
confess that the curses of a world and the frowns of a Deity are
inadequate to my demerits。 Is there a thing in the world worthy of
infinite abhorrence？ It is I。
What shall I say？ I was menaced； as I thought； with death； and； to
elude this evil； my hand was ready to inflict death upon the
menacer。 In visiting my house； I had made provision against the
machinations of Carwin。 In a fold of my dress an open penknife was
concealed。 This I now seized and drew forth。 It lurked out of
view； but I now see that my state of mind would have rendered the
deed inevitable if my brother had lifted his hand。 This instrumen