, 1886-04-02

lcrs IA d been closed. and this concealed
him from the ~neighbors. Here, then,
Markheim drew in u packing-case before
the cabinet, and began to search among
the keys. But as he sat thus, at once buoy
and absent, he was startled to his feet. \
dash Of ice, a fash Of fire, a bursting gush
N blood. went over him, and then he stool
~transflxed and thrilling. A step mounted
the stair slowly aud steadily, and pres
entity = hand was laid upon the knob. and
the lock clicked, and the door opened.
Fear held Markheim In a vice. What to
expect he knew not, whether the dead
man walking, or the official MINISTERS of
human Justice, or come lance witness
blindly stumbling in to consign him to the
gallows. But when a face was thrust into
the aperture, glanced around the room,
looked nj him, nodded n smiled as II In
friendly recognition, and then Withdrew
again, and the door closed behind IL, his
fear broke loose from his control In a
honr-e cry. At the sound OF this the Wis
itant returned.
~Did you cAll mef' he asked, pleasantly,
and with that he entered the room and
closed the door behind him.
Bat Murkheim stood and gazed at him
with all his eyes. Perhaps there was IA
nlm upon his sight, but the outlines OF the
newcomer seemed TO change and waver
like those Of the Idols in the wavering
candlelight Of the shop; and ut times he
thought he knew him; and Mt times he
thought he bore a likeness to himself; and
always like a lump of living terror, there
lay in his bosom the conviction that this
thing wa not Of the earth and not OF God.
And yet the creature had a strange mir
Of the commonplace, as he stepped in and
stood looking on Markheim with n smile;
and when he added; @You are looking for
the money. | believer II was in the tones
Of everyday politeness. Markheim made
no answer.
Il should warn YOU resumed the other,
that the maid has left her sweetheart
earlier thau usual and will soon be here.
If Mr.. Markheim be found in this house l
need not describe to him the conse-
luences."
"You know mefT cried the murderer.
The visitor smiled. "You have long been
A favorite OF mine,p he said; and ] have
long observed and often sought to help
you
what are your cried Markheim; tho
levilgn
what I may be- returned the other
can not affect the service I propose to rep
Ter YOU
1T cam cried Markheim; at doesl Be
helped by youi No, never; not by you'll
You do not know me yet; thank God, you
10 not know mel'
~ know YOU replied the y~isitant, with
4 sort Of kind severity, or, rather, firm
ness: Il know you TO the soul
know mcl1 cried Markheim, "who can
10 SOY My life is but a travesty and Sian
Ter on myself. 1 have lived to belle my
nature. All men do; all men are better
than this disguise that grows about Inc
stiles them. But had | the time | could
disclose myself
"ro mef7 inquired the v%isitant.
ITO yOn before ALL returned the muir
ierer. Il supposed you were intelligent.
/ thought-since you exist-you would
prove a reader Of the heart. And yet you
would propose to judge me by my acts.
Think OF il. my actsi | was born and l
nave lived in n land OF giants; giants have
dragged me by the wrists since was born
out Of my mother-the giants OF circum-
stance. And you would judge me by my
acts, Can you not read me for a thing
hat surely must be common as humanity
AN unwilling %sinnerf'
All this is very feelingly expressed
WAS the reply; "but 1t regards me not.
These points Of consistency are beyond my
province, and / care not in the least by
what compulsion you have been dragged
away, 50 Us you are but carried in the
right direction. But time flies; the serv-
ant delays, looking in the faces Of the
crowd and at the pictures on the board
ings, but still she keeps moving nearer;
and remember, IL IS rs if the gallows itself
was striding toward you through the
%streetsi Shall 1 hslp you; l, who know
alls Shall | tell you where To find the
moneys
Markheim could not refrain from smil-
ing with u kind OF bitter triumph. NO.
said he, n viii take nothing at your hands;
II / were dying Of thirst, and It was your
hand that put the pitcher to my lips, 1
should lind the courage to refuse it. 1t
may be credulous, but l will do nothing to
commit myself to evil"
81 have no objection to a desth-bed re-
pentancc, - observed the visltant.
$40 you think 1 have no more generous
Inspirations than to sin, and sin, and sin,
and, at last, sneak into heavenf My heart
rises at the thought. Is tSis, then, your ex-
pericnce Of mankindY-or is 1t because you
lind me with red hands that you presume
such basenesss And is this crime of muir
der indeed so impious as to dry up the very
springs Of goodY"
Murder is to me no special category
replied the other. A sins are murder,
even as all life il war. Virtues also differ
not by the thickness OF a nail-they are
both scythes for the reaping angel of
Death. Thu bad man is dear to me; not
the bad act, whose fruits, II we could fol
low them far enough down the hurting
cataract OF the ages, might yet be found
more blessed than those OF the rarest vir-
tues. And 1t Is not because you have
killed a dealer, but because your name Is
Markheim, that offer TO forward your
escape
Il will lay my heart open to YOU m
swercd Markheim. This crime in which
you find me is my last. On my way 70 Il !
nave learned many lessons, itself a lesson.
n momentous lesson. Hitherto | have been
a bond slave to poverty. There are obust
virtues that can stand in these tempta-
tions; mine was not so. l had "a thirst for
pleasure. But to-day, and out Of this
deed, l pluck both warning and riches
both the power and the fresh resolve "a he
myself. 1 become in all things a free ACTOR
In the world, 1 begin To see myself all
changed, these hands the agents OF good,
this heart at peace. / nave wandered
a few years, but now 1 see ouce
more my city OF destination.
Are my vices only to direct my life, and
my virtues TO lie without effect like some
passive lumber of the mindf Not so; good,
also, is the spring OF acts"
But the visitant raised his finger. For
six and thirty years that you have been in
this world,n said he, through many
changes OF fortune and varieties OF humor,
l have watched you steadily fall Fifteen
years ago you would have started at a
theft. Three years back you would have
blanched at the name OF murder. Is there
any crime, Is there any cruelty or mean
ness from which you still recoili Five
years from now I shall detect you In the
fact Downward downward lies vour wav.
nor can anything but death avail To stop
you. will PROFOUND TO you one simple
question, and as you answer | shall read
l. -. nn.r .anraI ho.onnnnn XnD. hn..