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The Power of Darkness 277
Peter, a rich peasant, is in a dying condition.
Yet he clings to his money and slave-drives his
young wife, Anisya, his two daughters by a first
marriage, and his peasant servant Nikita. He
will not allow them any rest from their toil, for
the greed of money is in his blood and the fear
of death in his bones, Anisya hates her husband:
he forces her to drudge, and he is old and ill. She
loves Nikita. The latter, young and irresponsi
ble, cannot resist women, who are his main weak
ness and final undoing. Before he came to old
Peter s farm, he had wronged an orphan girl.
When she becomes pregnant, she appeals to Ni-
kita s father, Akim, a simple and honest peasant.
He urges his son to marry the girl, because
"
it is
a sin to wrong an orphan. Look out, Nikita!
A tear of offense does not flow past, but upon a
man s head. Look out, or the same will happen
with you."
Akim s kindness and simplicity are opposed by
the viciousness and greed of his wife Matrena.
Nikita remains on the farm, and Anisya, urged
and influenced by his mother, poisons old Peter
and steals his money.
When her husband dies, Anisya marries Nikita
and turns the money over to him. Nikita be
comes the head of the house, and soon proves him
self a rake and a tyrant. Idleness and affluence
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