he drama, or of
that province even nobler than the drama; for it requires minuter
care--indulges in more complete description--yields to more elaborate
investigation of motives--commands a greater variety of chords in the
human heart--to which, with poor and feeble power for so high, yet so
ill-appreciated a task we now, not irreverently if rashly, aspire!

We pass at once--we glance not around us at the chamber of death--at
the broken heart of Lester--at the two-fold agony of his surviving
child--the agony which mourns and yet seeks to console another--the
mixed emotions of Walter, in which, an unsleeping eagerness to learn the
fearful all formed the main part--the solitary cell and solitary heart
of the convicted--we glance not at these;--we pass at once to the
evening in which Aram again saw Walter Lester, and for the last time.

"You are come, punctual to the hour," said he, in a low clear voice: "I
have not forgotten my word; the fulfilment of that promise has been a
victory over myself which no man can appreciate: but I owed it to you.
I have discharged the debt. Enough!--I have done more than I at first
purposed. I have extended my narration, but, superficially in some
parts, over my life: that prolixity, perhaps I owed to myself. Remember
your promise: this seal is not broken till the pulse is stilled in the
hand which now gives you these papers!"

Walter renewed his oath, and Aram, pausing for a moment, continued in an
altered and softening voice:

"Be kind to Lester: soothe, console him--never by a hint let him think
otherwise of me than he does. For his sake more than mine I ask this.
Venerable, kind old man! the warmth of human affection has rarely glowed
for me. To the few who loved me, how deeply I have repaid the love! But
these are not words to pass between you and me. Farewell! Yet, before
we part, say this much: whatever I have revealed in this
confession--whatever has been my wrong to you, or whatever (a less
offence) the language I have now, justifying myself, used to--to your
father--say, that you grant me that pardon which one man may grant
another."

"Fully, cordially," said Walter.

"In the day that for you brings the death that to-morrow awaits me,"
said Aram, in a deep tone, "be that forgiveness accorded to yourself!
Farewell. In that untried variety of Being which spreads beyond us,
who knows, but progressing from grade to grade, and world to world, our
souls, though in far distant ages