God Sees the Truth, but Waits (Tolstoy)
Short summary
Vladimir, Russia, 19th century. Merchant Iván Dmítritch Aksyónof set off for the Nizhny Fair despite his wife's bad dream about his hair turning grey.
He stopped at an inn with a fellow merchant. The next morning, Aksyónof left early but was arrested when police found a bloody knife in his bag. The merchant had been murdered, and Aksyónof was convicted and sent to Siberian hard labor despite his innocence.
For twenty-six years, Aksyónof lived as a convict. His hair turned white, he became religious, and other prisoners called him "Grandfather" and "The Saint." One day, a new convict named Makár Semyónitch arrived from Vladimir. When Makár dug an escape tunnel, the Governor questioned Aksyónof, who refused to betray him.
That night, Makár confessed he had killed the merchant and framed Aksyónof. He begged forgiveness.
God will forgive you! Maybe I am a hundred times worse than you. And at these words his heart grew light, and the longing for home left him.
Makár confessed to authorities, but when Aksyónof's release order came, he had already died.
Detailed summary
Division into chapters is editorial.
Aksyónofs early life and the fateful journey
In the town of Vladímir lived a young merchant named Iván Dmítritch Aksyónof who owned two shops and a house.
One summer, Aksyónof prepared to travel to the Nízhny Fair. As he said goodbye to his family, his wife warned him not to start that day, telling him about a disturbing dream she had where his hair turned completely grey upon his return. Aksyónof laughed off her concerns, calling it a lucky sign, and departed with his driver for the fair.
The accusation and arrest
Halfway through his journey, Aksyónof met another merchant and they stayed at the same inn for the night. Early the next morning, Aksyónof left before dawn to travel in the cool air. After traveling twenty-five miles, he stopped at another inn to rest and feed his horses. While playing his guitar on the porch, a troika arrived with an official and two soldiers.
The police officer questioned Aksyónof extensively about his previous night's stay and his early departure. When Aksyónof asked why he was being interrogated like a thief, the officer revealed that the merchant from the previous inn had been found murdered with his throat cut. During a search of Aksyónof's belongings, they discovered a bloodstained knife in his bag. Despite Aksyónof's protests of innocence, his frightened demeanor made him appear guilty. The officer accused him of murdering the merchant and stealing twenty thousand roubles.
Trial and imprisonment
Aksyónof was bound, arrested, and sent to the nearest town for imprisonment. Inquiries into his character in Vladímir revealed that while he had once been given to drink and waste time, he was fundamentally a good man. He was formally charged with murdering a merchant from Ryazán and robbing him of twenty thousand roubles. His wife, desperate and confused, traveled to see him in prison with all their small children.
When his wife saw him in prison clothes and chains among criminals, she fainted. After recovering, she asked what they should do, and he suggested petitioning the Tsar. However, her petition had been rejected. In desperation, she asked him directly if he had committed the crime.
So you, too, suspect me! said Aksyónof, and, hiding his face in his hands, he began to weep.
After his family left for the last time, Aksyónof realized that only God could know the truth. He stopped writing petitions, gave up all hope of earthly justice, and turned entirely to prayer.
It seems that only God can know the truth; it is to Him alone we must appeal, and from Him alone expect mercy.
Twenty-six years in Siberian prison
Aksyónof was condemned to be flogged and sent to the mines in Siberia. After the flogging wounds healed, he was driven to Siberia with other convicts.
For twenty-six years Aksyónof lived as a convict in Siberia. His hair turned white as snow, and his beard grew long, thin, and grey. All his mirth went.
In prison, Aksyónof learned to make boots and earned money to buy religious books. He read when there was light and participated in prison church services, reading lessons and singing in the choir. The prison authorities respected his meekness, and fellow prisoners called him "Grandfather" and "The Saint." They made him their spokesman and mediator in disputes. He received no news from home and didn't know if his family was still alive.
Meeting Makár Semyónitch and discovering the truth
One day, a new group of convicts arrived. Among them was a tall, strong man of sixty with a closely-cropped grey beard named Makár Semyónitch, who claimed to be from Vladímir.
When Aksyónof asked about the Aksyónof family, Makár replied that they were rich, though their father was in Siberia like themselves. After hearing Aksyónof's story from other prisoners, Makár showed great surprise and made cryptic comments about their meeting. His words and knowledge about how the knife could have been planted made Aksyónof suspect this man was the real murderer. That night, Aksyónof lay awake in anguish, remembering his former life and feeling consumed with anger toward Makár.
Confession, forgiveness, and death
Two weeks later, Aksyónof discovered Makár digging an escape tunnel. When the tunnel was found and the Governor questioned the prisoners, Aksyónof refused to betray Makár despite his anger.
I cannot say, your honour. It is not God's will that I should tell! Do what you like with me; I am in your hands.
That night, Makár came to Aksyónof's bed and confessed to the murder, revealing he had intended to kill Aksyónof too but escaped when he heard noise. He begged for forgiveness and promised to confess officially. Aksyónof, broken by twenty-six years of suffering, initially resisted, saying his wife was dead and children had forgotten him. But when Makár wept and begged for Christ's sake, Aksyónof's heart softened. He forgave Makár, finding peace and losing his desire for freedom. Despite Makár's confession, when the release order came, Aksyónof was already dead.
But when the order for his release came, Aksyónof was already dead.