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such wonderful skill； such native gifts of healing； beyond any which
medical science could impart； that society caught hold of him； and
would not let him sink out of its reach。 So； swaying to and fro upon
his horse； and grumbling thick accents at the bedside； he visited
all the sick chambers for miles about among the mountain towns； and
sometimes raised a dying man； as it were； by miracle； or quite as
often； no doubt； sent his patient to a grave that was dug many a
year too soon。 The doctor had an everlasting pipe in his mouth； and；
as somebody said； in allusion to his habit of swearing； it was
always alight with hell…fire。
These three worthies pressed forward； and greeted Ethan Brand
each after his own fashion； earnestly inviting him to partake of the
contents of a certain black bottle； in which； as they averred； he
would find something far better worth seeking for than the
Unpardonable Sin。 No mind； which has wrought itself by intense and
solitary meditation into a high state of enthusiasm； can endure the
kind of contact with low and vulgar modes of thought and feeling to
which Ethan Brand was now subjected。 It made him doubt…and； strange to
say； it was a painful doubt…whether he had indeed found the
Unpardonable Sin； and found it within himself。 The whole question on
which he had exhausted life； and more than life； looked like a
delusion。
〃Leave me；〃 he said； bitterly； 〃ye brute beasts； that have made
yourselves so； shrivelling up your souls with fiery liquors！ I have
done with you。 Years and years ago； I groped into your hearts； and
found nothing there for my purpose。 Get ye gone！〃
〃Why； you uncivil scoundrel；〃 cried the fierce doctor； 〃is that the
way you respond to the kindness of your best friends？ Then let me tell
you the truth。 You have no more found the Unpardonable Sin than yonder
boy Joe has。 You are but a crazy fellow… I told you so twenty years
ago… neither better nor worse than a crazy fellow； and the fit
companion of old Humphrey； here！〃
He pointed to an old man； shabbily dressed； with long white hair；
thin visage； and unsteady eyes。 For some years past this aged person
had been wandering about among the hills； inquiring of all
travellers whom he met for his daughter。 The girl； it seemed； had gone
off with a company of circus…performers； and occasionally tidings of
her came to the village； and fine stories were told of her
glittering appearance as she rode on horse…back in the ring； or
performed marvellous feats on the tight…rope。
The white…haired father now approached Ethan Brand； and gazed
unsteadily into his face。
〃They tell me you have been all over the earth；〃 said he；
wringing his hands with earnestness。 〃You must have seen my
daughter； for she makes a grand figure in the world； and everybody
goes to see her。 Did she send any word to her old father； or say
when she was coming back？〃
Ethan Brand's eye quailed beneath the old man's。 That daughter；
from whom he so earnestly desired a word of greeting； was the Esther
of our tale； the very girl whom； with such cold and remorseless
purpose； Ethan Brand had made the subject of a psychological
experiment； and wasted； absorbed； and perhaps annihilated her soul； in
the process。
〃Yes；〃 murmured he； turning away from the hoary wanderer； 〃it is no
delusion。 There is an Unpardonable Sin！〃
While these things were passing； a merry scene was going forward in
the area of cheerful light； beside the spring and before the door of
the hut。 A number of the youth of the village； young men and girls；
had hurried up the hill…side； impelled by curiosity to see Ethan
Brand； the hero of so many a legend familiar to their childhood。
Finding nothing； however； very remarkable in his aspect… nothing but a
sun…burnt wayfarer； in plain garb and dusty shoes； who sat looking
into the fire； as if he fancied pictures among the coals… these
young people speedily grew tired of observing him。 As it happened；
there was other amusement at hand。 An old German Jew； travelling
with a diorama on his back； was passing down the mountain…road towards
the village just as the party turned aside from it； and； in hopes of
eking out the profits of the day； the showman had kept them company to
the lime…kiln。
〃Come； old Dutchman；〃 cried one of the young men； 〃let us see
your pictures； if you can swear they are worth looking at！〃
〃O； yes； Captain；〃 answered the Jew… whether as a matter of
courtesy or craft； he styled everybody Captain… 〃I shall show you；
indeed； some very superb pictures！〃
So； placing his box in a proper position； he invited the young
men and girls to look through the glass orifices of the machine； and
proceeded to exhibit a series of the most outrageous scratchings and
daubings； as specimens of the fine arts； that ever an itinerant
showman had the face to impose upon his circle of spectators。 The
pictures were worn out； moreover； tattered； full of cracks and
wrinkles； dingy with tobacco…smoke； and otherwise in a most pitiable
condition。 Some purported to be cities； public edifices； and ruined
castles in Europe； others represented Napoleon's battles and
Nelson's sea…fights； and in the midst of these would be seen a
gigantic； brown； hairy hand… which might have been mistaken for the
Hand of Destiny； though； in truth； it was only the showman's… pointing
its forefinger to various scenes of the conflict； while its owner gave
historical illustrations。 When； with much merriment at its
abominable deficiency of merit； the exhibition was concluded； the
German bade little Joe put his head into the box。 Viewed through the
magnifying glasses； the boy's round； rosy visage assumed the strangest
imaginable aspect of an immense Titanic child； the mouth grinning
broadly； and the eyes and every other feature overflowing with fun
at the joke。 Suddenly； however； that merry face turned pale； and its
expression changed to horror； for this easily impressed and
excitable child had become sensible that the eye of Ethan Brand was
fixed upon him through the glass。
〃You make the little man to be afraid； Captain；〃 said the German
Jew； turning up the dark and strong outline of his visage； from his
stooping posture。 〃But look again； and； by chance； I shall cause you
to see somewhat that is very fine； upon my word！〃
Ethan Brand gazed into the box for an instant； and then starting
back； looked fixedly at the German。 What had he seen？ Nothing；
apparently； for a curious youth； who had peeped in almost at the
same moment； beheld only a vacant space of canvas。
〃I remember you now；〃 muttered Ethan Brand to the showman。
〃Ah； Captain；〃 whispered the Jew of Nuremberg； with a dark smile；
〃I find it to be a heavy matter in my show…box… this Unpardonable Sin！
By my faith； Captain； it has wearied my shoulders； this long day； to
carry it over the mountain。〃
〃Peace；〃 answered Ethan Brand； sternly； 〃or get thee into the
furnace yonder！〃
The Jew's exhibition had scarcely concluded； when a great；
elderly dog… who seemed to be his own master； as no person in the
company laid claim to him… saw fit to render himself the object of
public notice。 Hitherto； he had shown himself a very quiet； well
disposed old dog； going round from one to another； and； by way of
being sociable； offering his rough head to be patted by any kindly
hand that would take so much trouble。 But now； all of a sudden； this
grave and venerable quadruped； of his own mere motion； and without the
slightest suggestion from anybody else； began to run round after his
tail； which； to heighten the absurdity of the proceeding； was a
great deal shorter than it should have been。 Never was seen such
headlong eagerness in pursuit of an object that could not possibly
be attained； never was heard such a tremendous outbreak of growling；
snarling； barking； and snapping… as if one end of the ridiculous
brute's body were at deadly and most unforgivable enmity with the
other。 Faster and faster； round about went the cur； and faster and
still faster fled the unapproachable brevity of his tail； and louder
and fiercer grew his yells of rage and animosity； until； utterly
exhausted； and as far from the goal as ever； the foolish old dog
ceased his performance as suddenly as he had begun it。 The next moment
he was as mild； quiet； sensible； and respectable in his deportment； as
when he first scraped acquaintance with the company。
As may be supposed； the exhibition was greeted with universal
laughter； clapping of hands； and shouts of encore； to which the canine
performer responded by wagging all that there was to wag of his
tail； but appeared totally unable to repeat his very successful effort
to amuse the spectators。
Meanwhile； Ethan Brand had resumed his seat upon the log； and
moved； it might be； by a perception of some remote analogy between his
own case and that of this self…pursuing cur； he broke into the awful
laugh； which； more than any other token； expressed the condition of
his inward being。 From that moment； the merriment of the party was
at an end； they stood aghast； dr