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〃Your task draws to an end； I see；〃 said he。 〃This marble has
already been burning three days。 A few hours more will convert
the stone to lime。〃
〃Why； who are you？〃 exclaimed the lime…burner。 〃You seem as well
acquainted with my business as I am myself。〃
〃And well I may be；〃 said the stranger； 〃for I followed the same
craft many a long year； and here； too； on this very spot。 But you
are a newcomer in these parts。 Did you never hear of Ethan
Brand？〃
〃The man that went in search of the Unpardonable Sin？〃 asked
Bartram； with a laugh。
〃The same；〃 answered the stranger。 〃He has found what he sought；
and therefore he comes back again。〃
〃What！ then you are Ethan Brand himself？〃 cried the lime…burner；
in amazement。 〃I am a new…comer here； as you say； and they call
it eighteen years since you left the foot of Graylock。 But； I can
tell you； the good folks still talk about Ethan Brand； in the
village yonder； and what a strange errand took him away from his
lime…kiln。 Well； and so you have found the Unpardonable Sin？〃
〃Even so！〃 said the stranger； calmly。
〃If the question is a fair one；〃 proceeded Bartram； 〃where might
it be？〃
Ethan Brand laid his finger on his own heart。
〃Here！〃 replied he。
And then； without mirth in his countenance； but as if moved by an
involuntary recognition of the infinite absurdity of seeking
throughout the world for what was the closest of all things to
himself； and looking into every heart； save his own； for what was
hidden in no other breast； he broke into a laugh of scorn。 It was
the same slow； heavy laugh； that had almost appalled the
lime…burner when it heralded the wayfarer's approach。
The solitary mountain…side was made dismal by it。 Laughter； when
out of place； mistimed； or bursting forth from a disordered state
of feeling； may be the most terrible modulation of the human
voice。 The laughter of one asleep； even if it be a little
child；the madman's laugh；the wild； screaming laugh of a born
idiot；are sounds that we sometimes tremble to hear； and would
always willingly forget。 Poets have imagined no utterance of
fiends or hobgoblins so fearfully appropriate as a laugh。 And
even the obtuse lime…burner felt his nerves shaken； as this
strange man looked inward at his own heart； and burst into
laughter that rolled away into the night； and was indistinctly
reverberated among the hills。
〃Joe；〃 said he to his little son； 〃scamper down to the tavern in
the village； and tell the jolly fellows there that Ethan Brand
has come back； and that he has found the Unpardonable Sin！〃
The boy darted away on his errand； to which Ethan Brand made no
objection； nor seemed hardly to notice it。 He sat on a log of
wood； looking steadfastly at the iron door of the kiln。 When the
child was out of sight； and his swift and light footsteps ceased
to be heard treading first on the fallen leaves and then on the
rocky mountain…path； the lime…burner began to regret his
departure。 He felt that the little fellow's presence had been a
barrier between his guest and himself； and that he must now deal；
heart to heart； with a man who； on his own confession； had
committed the one only crime for which Heaven could afford no
mercy。 That crime； in its indistinct blackness； seemed to
overshadow him； and made his memory riotous with a throng of evil
shapes that asserted their kindred with the Master Sin； whatever
it might be； which it was within the scope of man's corrupted
nature to conceive and cherish。 They were all of one family； they
went to and fro between his breast and Ethan Brand's； and carried
dark greetings from one to the other。
Then Bartram remembered the stories which had grown traditionary
in reference to this strange man； who had come upon him like a
shadow of the night； and was making himself at home in his old
place； after so long absence； that the dead people； dead and
buried for years； would have had more right to be at home； in any
familiar spot； than he。 Ethan Brand； it was said； had conversed
with Satan himself in the lurid blaze of this very kiln。 The
legend had been matter of mirth heretofore； but looked grisly
now。 According to this tale； before Ethan Brand departed on his
search； he had been accustomed to evoke a fiend from the hot
furnace of the lime…kiln； night after night； in order to confer
with him about the Unpardonable Sin； the man and the fiend each
laboring to frame the image of some mode of guilt which could
neither be atoned for nor forgiven。 And； with the first gleam of
light upon the mountain…top； the fiend crept in at the iron door；
there to abide the intensest element of fire until again summoned
forth to share in the dreadful task of extending man's possible
guilt beyond the scope of Heaven's else infinite mercy。
While the lime…burner was struggling with the horror of these
thoughts； Ethan Brand rose from the log； and flung open the door
of the kiln。 The action was in such accordance with the idea in
Bartram's mind； that he almost expected to see the Evil One issue
forth； red…hot； from the raging furnace。
〃Hold！ hold！〃 cried he； with a tremulous attempt to laugh； for he
was ashamed of his fears； although they overmastered him。 〃Don't；
for mercy's sake； bring out your Devil now！〃
〃Man！〃 sternly replied Ethan Brand； 〃what need have I of the
Devil？ I have left him behind me； on my track。 It is with such
half…way sinners as you that he busies himself。 Fear not； because
I open the door。 I do but act by old custom； and am going to trim
your fire； like a lime…burner； as I was once。〃
He stirred the vast coals； thrust in more wood； and bent forward
to gaze into the hollow prison…house of the fire； regardless of
the fierce glow that reddened upon his face。 The lime…burner sat
watching him； and half suspected this strange guest of a purpose；
if not to evoke a fiend； at least to plunge into the flames； and
thus vanish from the sight of man。 Ethan Brand； however； drew
quietly back； and closed the door of the kiln。
〃I have looked；〃 said he； 〃into many a human heart that was seven
times hotter with sinful passions than yonder furnace is with
fire。 But I found not there what I sought。 No； not the
Unpardonable Sin！〃
〃What is the Unpardonable Sin？〃 asked the lime…burner； and then
he shrank farther from his companion； trembling lest his question
should be answered。
〃It is a sin that grew within my own breast；〃 replied Ethan
Brand； standing erect with a pride that distinguishes all
enthusiasts of his stamp。 〃A sin that grew nowhere else！ The sin
of an intellect that triumphed over the sense of brotherhood with
man and reverence for God； and sacrificed everything to its own
mighty claims！ The only sin that deserves a recompense of
immortal agony！ Freely； were it to do again； would I incur the
guilt。 Unshrinkingly I accept the retribution！〃
〃The man's head is turned；〃 muttered the lime…burner to himself。