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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 childthat 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 redhot 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 supposed； would have 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； th