George Burley's Hearts revolution continued to gather momentum as they went five points clear at the top of the league with their fifth consecutive win.
And they have to be thankful to Rudolf Skacel's fifth goal in five league games for setting them on their way before Edgaras Jankauskas notched his third goal of the week to ensure a Hearts victory.
But it was a game which hung on a knife edge until the last kick. Hearts dominated the first hour, but Motherwell reacted brilliantly from going two goals behind to produce a grandstand finish that almost saw them grab a last-gasp point.
For it took a breath-taking save from Craig Gordon to keep out a David Clarkson volley in the dying seconds to maintain Hearts' 100 per cent record.
Early on it had been Motherwell keeper Graeme Smith who had performed heroics, sprinting off his line as early as the second minute to deny Paul Hartley.
And Smith produced an even better save at the feet of Skacel midway through the first half, but could do nothing to stop the Czech firing Hearts in front after 40 minutes.
Hartley timed his pass to perfection to let Skacel race through on goal and clip a low finish past Smith from 12 yards.
Somehow Roman Bednar managed to head over the bar from Hartley's free-kick just after the break, but it looked like Hearts were well in control when they added a second goal after 70 minutes.
Panagiotis Fyssas burst down the left and his low cut-back was turned high into the net by Jankauskas.
It looked like Motherwell were dead and buried, but a soft penalty award after 75 minutes threw them a lifeline.
Julien Brellier was penalised for a tug on Jim Hamilton and substitute Richie Foran slammed home the spot-kick.
This galvanised Motherwell and Hamilton missed a glorious chance inside the six-yard box to fire an equaliser before Gordon produced a fantastic late save from Clarkson.