ThenBartramrememberedthestorieswhichhadgrowntraditionaryin
　　referencetothisstrangeman，whohadcomeuponhimlikeashadow
　　ofthenight，andwasmakinghimselfathomeinhisoldplace，after
　　solongabsencethatthedeadpeople，deadandburiedforyears，would
　　havehadmorerighttobeathome，inanyfamiliarspot，thanhe。
　　EthanBrand，itwassaid，hadconversedwithSatanhimselfinthe
　　luridblazeofthisverykiln。Thelegendhadbeenmatterofmirth
　　heretoforebutlookedgrislynow。Accordingtothistale，beforeEthan
　　Branddepartedonhissearch，hehadbeenaccustomedtoevokea
　　fiendfromthehotfurnaceofthelime-kiln，nightafternight，in
　　ordertoconferwithhimabouttheUnpardonableSin；themanandthe
　　fiendeachlaboringtoframetheimageofsomemodeofguiltwhich
　　couldneitherbeatonedfornorforgiven。And，withthefirstgleamof
　　lightuponthemountain-top，thefiendcreptinattheirondoor，
　　theretoabidetheintensestelementoffire，untilagainsummoned
　　forthtoshareinthedreadfultaskofextendingman’spossible
　　guiltbeyondthescopeofHeaven’selseinfinitemercy。
　　Whilethelime-burnerwasstrugglingwiththehorrorofthese
　　thoughts，EthanBrandrosefromthelog，andflungopenthedoorof
　　thekiln。TheactionwasinsuchaccordancewiththeideainBartram’s
　　mind，thathealmostexpectedtoseetheEvilOneissueforth，red-hot
　　fromtheragingfurnace。
　　“Hold！hold！”criedhe，withatremulousattempttolaugh；forhe
　　wasashamedofhisfears，althoughtheyovermasteredhim。“Don’t，
　　formercy’ssake，bringoutyourdevilnow！”
　　“Man！”sternlyrepliedEthanBrand，“whatneedhaveIofthedevil？
　　Ihavelefthimbehindme，onmytrack。Itiswithsuchhalfway
　　sinnersasyouthathebusieshimself。FearnotbecauseIopenthe
　　door。Idobutactbyoldcustom，andamgoingtotrimyourfire，like
　　alime-burner，asIwasonce。”
　　Hestirredthevastcoals，thrustinmorewood，andbentforwardto
　　gazeintothehollowprison-houseofthefire，regardlessofthe
　　fierceglowthatreddeneduponhisface。Thelime-burnersat
　　watchinghim，andhalfsuspectedhisstrangeguestofapurpose，if
　　nottoevokeafiend，atleasttoplungebodilyintotheflames，and
　　thusvanishfromthesightofman。EthanBrand，however，drew
　　quietlyback，andclosedthedoorofthekiln。
　　“Ihavelooked，saidhe，“intomanyahumanheartthatwasseven
　　timeshotterwithsinfulpassionsthanyonderfurnaceiswithfire。
　　ButIfoundnottherewhatIsought。No，nottheUnpardonableSin！”
　　“WhatistheUnpardonableSin？”askedthelime-burner；andthen
　　heshrankfurtherfromhiscompanion，tremblinglesthisquestion
　　shouldbeanswered。
　　“Itisasinthatgrewwithinmyownbreast。”repliedEthan
　　Brand，standingerect，withapridethatdistinguishesallenthusiasts
　　ofhisstamp。“Asinthatgrewnowhereelse！Thesinofanintellect
　　thattriumphedoverthesenseofbrotherhoodwithmanandreverence
　　forGod，andsacrificedeverythingtoitsownmightyclaims！The
　　onlysinthatdeservesarecompenseofimmortalagony！Freely，wereit
　　todoagain，wouldIincurtheguilt。UnshrinkinglyIacceptthe
　　retribution！”
　　“Theman’sheadisturned。”mutteredthelime-burnertohimself。
　　“Hemaybeasinner，liketherestofus-nothingmorelikely-but，
　　I’llbesworn，heisamadmantoo。”
　　Neverthelesshefeltuncomfortableathissituation，alonewith
　　EthanBrandonthewildmountain-side，andwasrightgladtohear
　　theroughmurmuroftongues，andthefootstepsofwhatseemedapretty
　　numerousparty，stumblingoverthestonesandrustlingthroughthe
　　underbrush。Soonappearedthewholelazyregimentthatwaswontto
　　infestthevillagetaverncomprehendingthreeorfourindividuals
　　whohaddrunkflipbesidethebar-roomfirethroughallthewinters，
　　andsmokedtheirpipesbeneaththestoopthroughallthesummers，
　　sinceEthanBrand’sdeparture。Laughingboisterously，andminglingall
　　theirvoicestogetherinunceremonioustalk，theynowburstintothe
　　moonshineandnarrowstreaksoffire-lightthatilluminatedtheopen
　　spacebeforethelime-kiln。Bartramsetthedoorajaragain，
　　floodingthespotwithlight，thatthewholecompanymightgeta
　　fairviewofEthanBrand，andheofthem。
　　There，amongotheroldacquaintances，wasaonceubiquitousman，
　　nowalmostextinct，butwhomwewereformerlysuretoencounteratthe
　　hotelofeverythrivingvillagethroughoutthecountry。Itwasthe
　　stage-agent。Thepresentspecimenofthegenuswasawiltedand
　　smoke-driedman，wrinkledandred-nosed，inasmartlycut，brown，
　　bob-tailedcoat，withbrassbuttons，who，foralengthoftime
　　unknown，hadkepthisdeskandcornerinthebar-room，andwasstill
　　puffingwhatseemedtobethesamecigarthathehadlightedtwenty
　　yearsbefore。Hehadgreatfameasadryjoker，though，perhaps，
　　lessonaccountofanyintrinsichumorthanfromacertainflavorof
　　brandy-toddyandtobacco-smoke，whichimpregnatedallhisideasand
　　expressions，aswellashisperson。Anotherwell-rememberedthough
　　strangelyalteredfacewasthatofLawyerGiles，aspeoplestill
　　calledhimincourtesy；anelderlyragamuffin，inhissoiled
　　shirt-sleevesandtow-clothtrousers。Thispoorfellowhadbeenan
　　attorney，inwhathecalledhisbetterdays，asharppractitioner，and
　　ingreatvogueamongthevillagelitigants；butflip，andsling，and
　　toddy，andcocktails，imbibedatallhours，morning，noon，and
　　night，hadcausedhimtoslidefromintellectualtovariouskinds
　　anddegreesofbodilylabor，till，atlast，toadopthisownphrase，
　　heslidintoasoap-vat。Inotherwords，Gileswasnowa
　　soap-boiler，inasmallway。Hehadcometobebutthefragmentofa
　　humanbeing，apartofonefoothavingbeenchoppedoffbyanaxe，and
　　anentirehandtornawaybythedevilishgripofasteam-engine。
　　Yet，thoughthecorporealhandwasgone，aspiritualmember
　　remained；for，stretchingforththestump，Gilessteadfastlyaverred
　　thathefeltaninvisiblethumbandfingerswithasvivida
　　sensationasbeforetherealoneswereamputated。Amaimedand
　　miserablewretchhewas；butone，nevertheless，whomtheworldcould
　　nottrampleon，andhadnorighttoscorn，eitherinthisorany
　　previousstageofhismisfortunes，sincehehadstillkeptupthe
　　courageandspiritofaman，askednothingincharity，andwithhis
　　onehand-andthattheleftone-foughtasternbattleagainstwant
　　andhostilecircumstances。
　　Amongthethrong，too，cameanotherpersonage，who，withcertain
　　pointsofsimilaritytoLawyerGiles，hadmanymoreofdifference。
　　Itwasthevillagedoctor；amanofsomefiftyyears，whom，atan
　　earlierperiodofhislife，weintroducedaspayingaprofessional
　　visittoEthanBrandduringthelatter’ssupposedinsanity。Hewasnow
　　apurple-visaged，rude，andbrutal，yethalf-gentlemanlyfigure，
　　withsomethingwild，ruined，anddesperateinhistalk，andinallthe
　　detailsofhisgestureandmanners。Brandypossessedthismanlike
　　anevilspirit，andmadehimassurlyandsavageasawildbeast，
　　andasmiserableasalostsoul；buttherewassupposedtobeinhim
　　suchwonderfulskill，suchnativegiftsofhealing，beyondanywhich
　　medicalsciencecouldimpart，thatsocietycaughtholdofhim，and
　　wouldnotlethimsinkoutofitsreach。So，swayingtoandfroupon
　　hishorse，andgrumblingthickaccentsatthebedside，hevisited
　　allthesickchambersformilesaboutamongthemountaintowns，and
　　sometimesraisedadyingman，asitwere，bymiracle，orquiteas
　　often，nodoubt，senthispatienttoagravethatwasdugmanya
　　yeartoosoon。Thedoctorhadaneverlastingpipeinhismouth，and，
　　assomebodysaid，inallusiontohishabitofswearing，itwas
　　alwaysalightwithhell-fire。
　　Thesethreeworthiespressedforward，andgreetedEthanBrand
　　eachafterhisownfashion，earnestlyinvitinghimtopartakeofthe
　　contentsofacertainblackbottle，inwhich，astheyaverred，he
　　wouldfindsomethingfarbetterworthseekingforthanthe
　　UnpardonableSin。Nomind，whichhaswroughtitselfbyintenseand
　　solitarymeditationintoahighstateofenthusiasm，canendurethe
　　kindofcontactwithlowandvulgarmodesofthoughtandfeelingto
　　whichEthanBrandwasnowsubjected。Itmadehimdoubt-and，strangeto
　　say，itwasapainfuldoubt-whetherhehadindeedfoundthe
　　UnpardonableSin，andfounditwithinhimself。Thewholequestionon
　　whichhehadexhaustedlife，andmorethanlife，lookedlikea
　　delusion。
　　“Leaveme。”hesaid，bitterly，“yebrutebeasts，thathavemade
　　yourselvesso，shrivellingupyoursoulswithfieryliquors！Ihave
　　donewithyou。Yearsandyearsago，Igropedintoyourhearts，and
　　foundnothingthereformypurpose。Getyegone！”
　　“Why，youuncivilscoundrel。”criedthefiercedoctor，“isthatthe
　　wayyourespondtothekindnessofyourbestfriends？Thenletmetell
　　youthetruth。YouhavenomorefoundtheUnpardonableSinthanyonder
　　boyJoehas。Youarebutacrazyfellow-Itoldyousotwentyyears
　　ago-neitherbetternorworsethanacrazyfellow，andthefit
　　companionofoldHumphrey，here！”
　　Hepointedtoanoldman，shabbilydressed，withlongwhitehair，
　　thinvisage，andunsteadyeyes。Forsomeyearspastthisagedperson
　　hadbeenwanderingaboutamongthehills，inquiringofall
　　travellerswhomhemetforhisdaughter。Thegirl，itseemed，hadgone
　　offwithacompanyofcircus-performers；andoccasionallytidingsof
　　hercametothevillage，andfinestoriesweretoldofher
　　glitteringappearanceassherodeonhorse-backinthering，or
　　performedmarvellousfeatsonthetight-rope。
　　Thewhite-hairedfathernowapproachedEthanBrand，andgazed
　　unsteadilyintohisface。
　　“Theytellmeyouhavebeenallovertheearth。”saidhe，
　　wringinghishandswithearnestness。“Youmusthaveseenmy
　　daughter，forshemakesagrandfigureintheworld，andeverybody
　　goestoseeher。Didshesendanywordtoheroldfather，orsay
　　whenshewascomingback？”
　　EthanBrand’seyequailedbeneaththeoldman’s。Thatdaughter，
　　fromwhomhesoearnestlydesiredawordofgreeting，wastheEsther
　　ofourtale，theverygirlwhom，withsuchcoldandremorseless
　　purpose，EthanBrandhadmadethesubjectofapsychological
　　experiment，andwasted，absorbed，andperhapsannihilatedhersoul，in
　　theprocess。
　　“Yes。”murmuredhe，turningawayfromthehoarywanderer；“itisno
　　delusion。ThereisanUnpardonableSin！”
　　Whilethesethingswerepassing，amerryscenewasgoingforwardin
　　theareaofcheerfullight，besidethespringandbeforethedoorof
　　thehut。Anumberoftheyouthofthevillage，youngmenandgirls，
　　hadhurriedupthehill-side，impelledbycuriositytoseeEthan
　　Brand，theheroofsomanyalegendfamiliartotheirchildhood。
　　Findingnothing，however，veryremarkableinhisaspect-nothingbuta
　　sun-burntwayfarer，inplaingarbanddustyshoes，whosatlooking
　　intothefire，asifhefanciedpicturesamongthecoals-these
　　youngpeoplespeedilygrewtiredofobservinghim。Asithappened，
　　therewasotheramusementathand。AnoldGermanJew，travelling
　　withadioramaonhisback，waspassingdownthemountain-roadtowards
　　thevillagejustasthepartyturnedasidefromit，and，inhopesof
　　ekingouttheprofitsoftheday，theshowmanhadkeptthemcompanyto
　　thelime-kiln。
　　“Come，oldDutchman。”criedoneoftheyoungmen，“letussee
　　yourpictures，ifyoucansweartheyareworthlookingat！”
　　“O，yes，Captain。”answeredtheJew-whetherasamatterof
　　courtesyorcraft，hestyledeverybodyCaptain-“Ishallshowyou，
　　indeed，someverysuperbpictures！”
　　So，placinghisboxinaproperposition，heinvitedtheyoung