Part 27 (1/2)
”And grace?” cried Markheim.
”Have you not tried it?” returned the other. ”Two or three years ago, did I not see you on the platform of revival meetings, and was not your voice the loudest in the hymn?”
”It is true,” said Markheim; ”and I see clearly what remains for me by way of duty. I thank you for these lessons from my soul; my eyes are opened, and I behold myself at last for what I am.”
At this moment, the sharp note of the door-bell rang through the house; and the visitant, as though this were some concerted signal for which he had been waiting, changed at once in his demeanour.
”The maid!” he cried. ”She has returned, as I forewarned you, and there is now before you one more difficult pa.s.sage. Her master, you must say, is ill; you must let her in, with an a.s.sured but rather serious countenance--no smiles, no overacting, and I promise you success! Once the girl within, and the door closed, the same dexterity that has already rid you of the dealer will relieve you of this last danger in your path. Thenceforward you have the whole evening--the whole night, if needful--to ransack the treasures of the house and to make good your safety. This is help that comes to you with the mask of danger. Up!” he cried; ”up, friend; your life hangs trembling in the scales; up, and act!”
Markheim steadily regarded his counsellor. ”If I be condemned to evil acts,” he said, ”there is still one door of freedom open--I can cease from action. If my life be an ill thing, I can lay it down. Though I be, as you say truly, at the beck of every small temptation, I can yet, by one decisive gesture, place myself beyond the reach of all. My love of good is d.a.m.ned to barrenness; it may, and let it be! But I have still my hatred of evil; and from that, to your galling disappointment, you shall see that I can draw both energy and courage.”
The features of the visitor began to undergo a wonderful and lovely change: they brightened and softened with a tender triumph; and, even as they brightened, faded and dislimned. But Markheim did not pause to watch or understand the transformation. He opened the door and went downstairs very slowly, thinking to himself. His past went soberly before him; he beheld it as it was, ugly and strenuous like a dream, random as chance-medley--a scene of defeat. Life, as he thus reviewed it, tempted him no longer; but on the further side he perceived a quiet haven for his bark. He paused in the pa.s.sage, and looked into the shop, where the candle still burned by the dead body. It was strangely silent.
Thoughts of the dealer swarmed into his mind, as he stood gazing. And then the bell once more broke out into impatient clamour.
He confronted the maid upon the threshold with something like a smile.
”You had better go for the police,” said he; ”I have killed your master.”
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 90: First published in 1885.]
SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS
WITH SOME TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION AND FOR COMPOSITION
(Note.--The selections named below are as a rule short; and, since they are contained in standard works of modern prose, they are accessible in the average library. Page numbers in parentheses refer to the present volume.)
I. THE PERSONAL LIFE
(_a_) William Hazlitt, _On Personal Character_, in ”The Plain Speaker”: How the main thesis differs from that in Emerson's _Self-Reliance_ (page 1). (_b_) Walter Pater, _Diaphaneite_, in ”Miscellaneous Studies”: The substance of the ideal personality here delineated, and how it differs from the type suggested by Emerson. (_c_) Matthew Arnold, _Doing as One Likes_, or _Hebraism and h.e.l.lenism_, in ”Culture and Anarchy”: The main principles of personal endeavor suggested in either of these essays.
(_d_) Plutarch, _Marcus Cato,_ in ”Lives,” Vol. II of Clough's translation: 1. Cato's Self-Reliance. 2. Cato's type of character in American public life. (_e_) Walter Scott, fragment of _Autobiography_, in Lockhart's ”Life of Scott:” A comparison of Scott's early training with Ruskin's. See also the early chapters of (_f_) Trevelyan's ”Life of Macaulay” and (_g_) Froude's ”Life of Carlyle.” (_h_) Charles Darwin, _Autobiography_, in ”Life and Letters:” 1. The change which came over Darwin's att.i.tude toward literature. 2. The contrast between Darwin's type of mind and Lamb's as revealed in _Old China_ (page 40) and Pater's essay (page 437).
II. EDUCATION
(_a_) R.W. Emerson, _The American Scholar_, in ”Nature, Addresses, Lectures:” The main points in the view here given of education. 2.
Certain considerations, somewhat neglected by Emerson, but developed by Newman (page 52). (_b_) Woodrow Wilson, _The Training of Intellect_ (an address to the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Yale University): How far your own course of study is fulfilling the requirements here set forth, (_c_) William Hazlitt, _On Application to Study_, in ”The Plain Speaker:” 1.
Hazlitt's view of the study of composition. 2. How the principles of application which he advocates may be applied to some other study in which you are interested. (_d_) T.H. Huxley, _Science and Culture_, in ”Science and Education:” 1. How far the principles here set forth bear out Huxley's definition of education (page 47). 2. The main point at issue between Huxley and Arnold (Arnold's essay, page 75, is a reply to Huxley), and your own view of the matter drawn from your own experience.
(_e_) J.S. Mill, _Inaugural Address at St. Andrew's,_ in ”Dissertations,” Vol. IV: Mill's main contentions as to the exact purpose and value of the study of language and literature in universities. (_f_) H.D. Th.o.r.eau, _Reading_, in ”Walden:” The author's views in regard to reading not done in connection with school work.
(_g_) A.G. Balfour, _Pleasures of Reading_, in ”Essays and Addresses”
(written as a reply to Harrison's claims, page 97): The main points at issue between Harrison and Balfour, and your own view of the matter.
(_h_) John Lubbock, _The Choice of Books_, in ”The Pleasures of Life:”
Whether this essay goes to support Harrison's or Balfour's view, and how. (_i_) Woodrow Wilson, essays in ”Mere Literature.” (_j_) John Ruskin, _Sesame and Lilies_. (_k_) Consult several biographies of great men--for example, Morley's _Gladstone_, Froude's _Carlyle_, Darwin's _Life_, Huxley's _Life_--and make a comparative study of their early reading.
III. RECREATION AND TRAVELS