The Forged Coupon, Tolstoy's final novella, is a brilliant study of evil's devastating power set against a masterful depiction of Russian life. Stepan, unavoidably enslaved by the power his crimes bring him, continues down the path of evil, remorselessly seeking new opportunities to murder and maim. When one of his victims refuses to concede to him and instead dies with pity on her lips, he is haunted by her image. Suddenly, he is forced to choose between continuing his criminal career and facing the consequences of his actions.