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intelligent。 I thoughtsince you existyou would prove a reader of the
heart。 And yet you would propose to judge me by my acts！ Think of itmy
acts！ I was born and I have lived in a land of giants； giants have dragged
me by the wrists since I was born out of my motherthe giants of
circumstance。 And you would judge me by my acts！ But can you not look
within？ Can you not understand that evil is hateful to me？ Can you not see
within me the clear writing of conscience； never blurred by any wilful
sophistry； although too often disregarded？ Can you not read me for a thing
that surely must be common as humanity the unwilling sinner？〃
〃All this is very feelingly expressed；〃 was the reply； 〃but it regards me
not。 These points of consistency are beyond my province； and I care not in
the least by what compulsion you may have been dragged away； so as you
are but carried in the right direction。 But time flies； the servant delays；
looking in the faces of the crowd and at the pictures on the hoardings； but
still she keeps moving nearer； and remember； it is as if the gallows itself
was striding towards you through the Christmas streets！ Shall I help youI；
who know all？ Shall I tell you where to find the money？〃
〃For what price？〃 asked Markheim。
〃I offer you the service for a Christmas gift；〃 returned the other。
Markheim could not refrain from smiling with a kind of bitter triumph。
〃No；〃 said he； 〃I will take nothing at your hands； if I were dying of thirst；
and it was your hand that put the pitcher to my lips； I should find the
courage to refuse。 It may be credulous； but I will do nothing to commit
myself to evil。〃
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〃I have no objection to a death…bed repentance；〃 observed the visitant。
〃Because you disbelieve their efficacy！〃 Markheim cried。
〃I do not say so；〃 returned the other； 〃but I look on these things from a
different side； and when the life is done my interest falls。 The man has
lived to serve me； to spread black looks under colour of religion； or to sow
tares in the wheat…field； as you do； in a course of weak compliance with
desire。 Now that he draws so near to his deliverance； he can add but one
act of service： to repent； to die smiling； and thus to build up in confidence
and hope the more timorous of my surviving followers。 I am not so hard a
master。 Try me； accept my help。 Please yourself in life as you have done
hitherto； please yourself more amply； spread your elbows at the board； and
when the night begins to fall and the curtains to be drawn； I tell you； for
your greater comfort； that you will find it even easy to compound your
quarrel with your conscience； and to make a truckling peace with God。 I
came but now from such a death…bed； and the room was full of sincere
mourners； listening to the man's last words； and when I looked into that
face； which had been set as a flint against mercy； I found it smiling with
hope。〃
〃And do you； then； suppose me such a creature？〃 asked Markheim。
〃Do you think I have no more generous aspirations than to sin and sin and
sin and at last sneak into heaven？ My heart rises at the thought。 Is this；
then； your experience of mankind？ or is it because you find me with red
hands that you presume such baseness？ And is this crime of murder indeed
so impious as to dry up the very springs of good？〃
〃Murder is to me no special category；〃 replied the other。 〃All sins are
murder； even as all life is war。 I behold your race； like starving mariners
on a raft； plucking crusts out of the hands of famine and feeding on each
other's lives。 I follow sins beyond the moment of their acting； I find in all
that the last consequence is death； and to my eyes； the pretty maid who
thwarts her mother with such taking graces on a question of a ball； drips
no less visibly with human gore than such a murderer as yourself。 Do I say
that I follow sins？ I follow virtues also。 They differ not by the thickness of
a nail； they are both scythes for the reaping angel of Death。 Evil； for which
I live； consists not in action but in character。 The bad man is dear to me；
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not the bad act； whose fruits； if we could follow them far enough down the
hurtling cataract of the ages； might yet be found more blessed than those
of the rarest virtues。 And it is not because you have killed a dealer； but
because you are Markheim； that I offer to forward your escape。〃
〃I will lay my heart open to you；〃 answered Markheim。 〃This crime on
which you find me is my last。 On my way to it I have learned many
lessons； itself is a lessona momentous lesson。 Hitherto I have been
driven with revolt to what I would not； I was a bond…slave to poverty；
driven and scourged。 There are robust virtues that can stand in these
temptations； mine was not so； I had a thirst of pleasure。 But to…day； and
out of this deed； I pluck both warning and richesboth the power and a
fresh resolve to be myself。 I become in all things a free actor in the world；
I begin to see myself all changed； these hands the agents of good； this
heart at peace。 Something comes over me out of the pastsomething of
what I have dreamed on Sabbath evenings to the sound of the church
organ； of what I forecast when I shed tears over noble books； or talked； an
innocent child； with my mother。 There lies my life； I have wandered a few
years； but now I see once more my city of destination。〃
〃You are to use this money on the Stock Exchange； I think？〃 remarked
the visitor； 〃and there； if I mistake not； you have already lost some
thousands？〃
〃Ah；〃 said Markheim； 〃but this time I have a sure thing。〃
〃This time； again； you will lose；〃 replied the visitor quietly。
〃Ah； but I keep back the half！〃 cried Markheim。
〃That also you will lose；〃 said the other。
The sweat started upon Markheim's brow。 〃Well then； what matter？〃
he exclaimed。 〃Say it be lost； say I am plunged again in poverty； shall one
part of me； and that the worse； continue until the end to override the better？
Evil and good run strong in me； hailing me both ways。 I do not love the
one thing； I love all。 I can conceive great deeds； renunciations；
martyrdoms； and t