The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner

“Sir, I will let you know that I detest your principles and your person alike.”

Rabina challenges her husband’s character, criticizing his principles and his person. Whether through his actions or his beliefs, he is irredeemable in the eyes of his wife. Their marriage is destined to fail because, like the country of Scotland, they are split along seemingly irreconcilable philosophical lines.

“To the wicked, all things are wicked; but to the just, all things are just and right.”

Wringhim’s words foreshadow Robert’s temptation, introducing into Robert’s young mind the sense that the wicked and the good are immutable, a core tenet of predestination. Any action carried out by a wicked person is inherently wicked in this line of thought, so Robert—believing himself to be a good person—must only be able to carry out good actions. Robert comes to view himself and his deeds as inherently just and right, simply because he is the person carrying them out.

“A brother he certainly was, in the eye of the law, and it is more than probable that he was his brother in reality.”

The editor is adamant that Robert is almost certainly Laird Colwan’s son, yet the truth becomes inconsequential to Laird Colwan. To him, Robert may be his biological son, but he cannot be his spiritual son. Robert is too closely associated with Rabina and her beliefs, to the point where the child comes to represent the failed marriage. Laird Colwan rejects Robert because of this.