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bedside； observed that his usual audible breathing had ceased。
The candle was burning low； and he had to lift it to see the
patient’s face distinctly。 Examination convinced him that the
deacon was dead—had been dead some time； for the limbs were
rigid。 Silas asked himself if he had been asleep； and looked at the
clock： it was already four in the morning。 How was it that William
had not come？ In much anxiety he went to seek for help； and soon
there were several friends assembled in the house； the minister
among them； while Silas went away to his work； wishing he could
have met William to know the reason of his non…appearance。 But
at six o’clock； as he was thinking of going to seek his friend；
William came； and with him the minister。 They came to summon
him to Lantern Yard； to meet the church…members there； and to
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his inquiry concerning the cause of the summons the only reply
was； “You will hear”。 Nothing further was said until Silas was
seated in the vestry； in front of the minister； with the eyes of those
who to him represented God’s people fixed solemnly upon him。
Then the minister； taking out a pocket…knife； showed it to Silas；
and asked him if he knew where he had left that knife。 Silas said
he did not know that he had left it anywhere out of his own
pocket—but he was trembling at this strange interrogation。 He
was then exhorted not to hide his sin； but to confess and repent。
The knife had been found in the bureau by the departed deacon’s
bedside—found in the place where the little bag of church money
had lain； which the minister himself had seen the day before。
Some hand had removed that bag； and whose hand could it be； if
not that of the man to whom the knife belonged？ For some time
Silas was mute with astonishment； then he said； “God will clear
me： I know nothing about the knife being there； or the money
being gone。 Search me and my dwelling； you will find nothing but
three pound five of my own savings； which William Dane knows I
have had these six months。” At this William groaned； but the
minister said； “The proof is heavy against you； brother Marner。
The money was taken in the night last past； and no man was with
our departed brother but you； for William Dane declares to us that
he was hindered by sudden sickness from going to take his place
as usual； and you yourself said that he had not come； and；
moreover； you neglected the dead body。”
“I must have slept；” said Silas。 Then； after a pause； he added
“Or I must have had another visitation like that which you have all
seen me under； so that the thief must have come and gone while I
was not in the body； but out of the body。 But； I say again； search
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me and my dwelling； for I have been nowhere else。”
The search was made； and it ended—in William Dane’s finding
the well…known bag； empty； tucked behind the chest of drawers in
Silas’s chamber。 On this William exhorted his friend to confess；
and not to hide his sin any longer。 Silas turned a look of keen
reproach on him； and said； “William； for nine years that we have
gone in and out together； have you ever known me tell a lie？ But
God will clear me。”
“Brother；” said William； “how do I know what you may have
done in the secret chambers of your heart； to give Satan an
advantage over you？”
Silas was still looking at his friend。 Suddenly a deep flush came
over his face； and he was about to speak impetuously； when he
seemed checked again by some inward shock； that sent the flush
back and made him tremble。 But at last he spoke feebly； looking at
William。
“I remember now—the knife wasn’t in my pocket。”
William said； “I know nothing of what you mean。” The other
persons present； however； began to inquire where Silas meant to
say that the knife was； but he would give no further explanation：
he only said； “I am sore stricken； I can say nothing。 God will clear
me。”
On their return to the vestry there was further deliberation。
Any resort to legal measures for ascertaining the culprit was
contrary to the principles of the church in Lantern Yard；
according to which prosecution was forbidden to Christians； even
had the case held less scandal to the community。 But the members
were bound to take other measures for finding out the truth； and
they resolved on praying and drawing lots。 This resolution can be
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a ground of surprise only to those who are unacquainted with that
obscure religious life which has gone on in the alleys of our towns。
Silas knelt with his brethren； relying on his own innocence being
certified by immediate divine interference； but feeling that there
was sorrow and mourning behind for him even then—that his
trust in man had been cruelly bruised。 The lots declared that Silas
Marner was guilty。 He was solemnly suspended from church…
membership； and called upon to render up the stolen money： only
on confession； as the sign of repentance； could he be received once
more within the folds of the church。 Marner listened in silence。 At
last； when every one rose to depart； he went towards William Dane
and said； in a voice shaken by agitation—“The last time I
remember using my knife was when I took it out to cut a strap for
you。 I don’t remember putting it in my pocket again。 You stole the
money； and you have woven a plot to lay the sin at my door。 But
you may prosper； for all that： there is no just God that governs the
earth righteously； but a God of lies； that bears witness against the
innocent。”
There was a general shudder at this blasphemy。
William said meekly； “I leave our brethren to judge whether
this is the voice of Satan or not。 I can do nothing but pray for you；
Silas。”
Poor Marner went out with that despair in his soul—that
shaken trust in God and man； which is little short of madness to a
loving nature。 In the bitterness of his wounded spirit； he said to
himself； “She will cast me off too。” And he reflected that if she did
not believe the testimony against him； her whole faith must be
upset as his was。 To people accustomed to reason about the forms
in which their religious feeling has incorporated itself； it is difficult
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to enter into that simple； untaught state of mind in which the form
and the feeling have never been severed by an act of reflection。 We
are apt to think it inevitable that a man in Marner’s position
should have begun to question the validity of an appeal to the
divine judgment by drawing lots； but to him this would have been
an effort of independent thought such as he had never known； and
he must have made the effort at a moment when all his energies
were turned into the anguish of disappointed faith。 If there is an
angel who records the sorrows of men as well as their sins； he
knows how many and deep are the sorrows that spring from false
ideas for which no man is culpable。
Marner went home； and for a whole day sat alone； stunned by
despair； without any impulse to go to Sarah and attempt to win
her belief in his innocence。 The second day he took refuge from
benumbing unbelief； by getting into his loom and working away as
usual； and before many hours were past； the minister and one of