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deed inevitable if my brother had lifted his hand。 This instrument
of my preservation would have been plunged into his heart。
O insupportable remembrance！ hide thee from my view for a time；
hide it from me that my heart was black enough to meditate the
stabbing of a brother！ a brother thus supreme in misery； thus
towering in virtue！
He was probably unconscious of my design； but presently drew back。
This interval was sufficient to restore me to myself。 The madness；
the iniquity； of that act which I had purposed rushed upon my
apprehension。 For a moment I was breathless with agony。 At the
next moment I recovered my strength； and threw the knife with
violence on the floor。
The sound awoke my brother from his reverie。 He gazed alternately
at me and at the weapon。 With a movement equally solemn he stooped
and took it up。 He placed the blade in different positions；
scrutinizing it accurately； and maintaining； at the same time； a
profound silence。
Again he looked at me； but all that vehemence and loftiness of
spirit which had so lately characterized his features were flown。
Fallen muscles； a forehead contracted into folds； eyes dim with
unbidden drops； and a ruefulness of aspect which no words can
describe； were now visible。
His looks touched into energy the same sympathies in me； and I
poured forth a flood of tears。 This passion was quickly checked by
fear； which had now no longer my own but his safety for their
object。 I watched his deportment in silence。 At length he spoke：
〃Sister；〃 said he； in an accent mournful and mild； 〃I have acted
poorly my part in this world。 What thinkest thou？ Shall I not do
better in the next？〃
I could make no answer。 The mildness of his tone astonished and
encouraged me。 I continued to regard him with wistful and anxious
looks。
〃I think；〃 resumed he； 〃I will try。 My wife and my babes have gone
before。 Happy wretches！ I have sent you to repose； and ought not
to linger behind。〃
These words had a meaning sufficiently intelligible。 I looked at
the open knife in his hand and shuddered； but knew not how to
prevent the deed which I dreaded。 He quickly noticed my fears； and
comprehended them。 Stretching toward me his hand； with an air of
increasing mildness； 〃Take it；〃 said he； 〃fear not for thy own
sake； nor for mine。 The cup is gone by； and its transient
inebriation is succeeded by the soberness of truth。
〃Thou angel whom I was wont to worship！ fearest thou； my sister；
for thy life？ Once it was the scope of my labors to destroy thee；
but I was prompted to the deed by heaven； such； at least； was my
belief。 Thinkest thou that thy death was sought to gratify
malevolence？ No。 I am pure from all stain。 I believed that my
God was my mover！
〃Neither thee nor myself have I cause to injure。 I have done my
duty； and surely there is merit in having sacrificed to that all
that is dear to the heart of man。 If a devil has deceived me； he
came in the habit of an angel。 If I erred； it was not my judgment
that deceived me； but my senses。 In thy sight； Being of beings！ I
am still pure。 Still will I look for my reward in thy justice！〃
Did my ears truly report these sounds？ If I did not err； my
brother was restored to just perceptions。 He knew himself to have
been betrayed to the murder of his wife and children； to have been
the victim of infernal artifice； yet he found consolation in the
rectitude of his motives。 He was not devoid of sorrow； for this
was written on his countenance； but his soul was tranquil and
sublime。
Perhaps this was merely a transition of his former madness into a
new shape。 Perhaps he had not yet awakened to the memory of the
horrors which he had perpetrated。 Infatuated wretch that I was！
To set myself up as a model by which to judge of my heroic brother！
My reason taught me that his conclusions were right； but； conscious
of the impotence of reason over my own conduct； conscious of my
cowardly rashness and my criminal despair； I doubted whether anyone
could be steadfast and wise。
Such was my weakness； that even in the midst of these thoughts my
mind glided into abhorrence of Carwin； and I uttered； in a low
voice； 〃O Carwin！ Carwin！ what hast thou to answer for？〃
My brother immediately noticed the involuntary exclamation。
〃Clara！〃 said he； 〃be thyself。 Equity used to be a theme for thy
eloquence。 Reduce its lessons to practice； and be just to that
unfortunate man。 The instrument has done its work； and I am
satisfied。
〃I thank thee； my God； for this last illumination！ My enemy is
thine also。 I deemed him to be a man；the man with whom I have
often communed； but now thy goodness has unveiled to me his true
nature。 As the performer of thy behests； he is my friend。〃
My heart began now to misgive me。 His mournful aspect had
gradually yielded place to a serene brow。 A new soul appeared to
actuate his frame； and his eyes to beam with preternatural luster。
These symptoms did not abate； and he continued：
〃Clara； I must not leave thee in doubt。 I know not what brought
about thy interview with the being whom thou callest Carwin。 For a
time I was guilty of thy error； and deduced from his incoherent
confessions that I had been made the victim of human malice。 He
left us at my bidding； and I put up a prayer that my doubts should
be removed。 Thy eyes were shut and thy ears sealed to the vision
that answered my prayer。
〃I was indeed deceived。 The form thou hast seen was the
incarnation of a demon。 The visage and voice which urged me to the
sacrifice of my family were his。 Now he personates a human form；
then he was environed with the luster of heaven。
〃Clara；〃 he continued； advancing closer to me； 〃thy death must
come。 This minister is evil； but he from whom his commission was
received is God。 Submit then with all thy wonted resignation to a
decree that cannot be reversed or resisted。 Mark the clock。 Three
minutes are allowed to thee； in which to call up thy fortitude and
prepare thee for thy doom。〃 There he stopped。
Even now； when this scene exists only in memory； when life and all
its functions have sunk into torpor； my pulse throbs； and my hairs
uprise； my brows are knit； as then； and I gaze around me in
distraction。 I was unconquerably averse to death； but death；
imminent and full of agony as that which was threatened； was
nothing。 This was not the only or chief inspirer of my fears。
For him； not for myself； was my soul tormented。 I might die； and
no crime； surpassing the reach of mercy； would pursue me to the
presence of my Judge； but my assassin would survive to contemplate
his deed； and that assassin was Wieland！
Wings to bear me beyond his reach I had not。 I could not vanish
with a thought。 The door was open； but my murderer was interposed
between that and me。 Of self…defense I was incapable。 The frenzy
that lately prompted me