title: My Dark Brother: The Story of the Illins, a Russian-Aboriginal Family
author:  Elena Govor 
description: Elena Gover emigrated to Australia from Russia in 1990.
zlib_text: ![](images/00001.jpg)
  
  * * *
  
  
    
    
  Father Sergius
  
  
    
    
  [ I  
    
  ](Father%20Sergius_split_001.html#filepos1849)[ II  
    
  ](Father%20Sergius_split_001.html#filepos17914)[ III  
    
  ](Father%20Sergius_split_001.html#filepos33148)[ IV  
    
  ](Father%20Sergius_split_001.html#filepos58724)[ V  
    
  ](Father%20Sergius_split_001.html#filepos62280)[ VI
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  http://www.blackmask.com
  
  
  # Father Sergius
  
  
  ### Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy
  
  
  ##### Translated by Louise and Aylmer Maude
  
  
  
  
  
  This page copyright © 2001 Blackmask Online.
  
  
  
  
  
  http://www.blackmask.com  
    
  
  * I
  
  
  * II
  
  
  * III
  
  
  * IV
  
  
  * V
  
  
  * VI
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  ###
  
  
  I
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  In Petersburg in the 1840s a surprising event occurred. An officer
  
  
  of the Cuirassier Life Guards, a handsome prince who everyone predicted
  
  
  would become aide- de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas I and have a
  
  
  brilliant career, left the service, broke off his engagement to a
  
  
  beautiful maid of honour, a favourite of the Empress's, gave his small
  
  
  estate to his sis