AustLit

Opium tale. A manuscript is obtained from a former friend within a few weeks of his death in an opium den. It reveals his intense depression after his sister's death and the terrible dreams haunting him - to murder his closest friend who has been possessed by grief at her death, for he was her fiancée. In an obsessed dreamlike state he kills him - finding relief for a time in the cessation of the dreams. But an awakening to his act and conscience haunt him then by day - opium gives him ease and the sleep which is now comforting. Hazy inward tale; some suggestion that the murder saved his friend from suicide and enabled a reunion of the lovers which might not be wholly wrong. 'Judgement in the next world' is conclusion. Atmospheric; interesting in uncertainty of judgement of murder. (PB)