Kris Boyd gave Kilmarnock a point at Tynecastle and ensured that former Hearts Manager Jim Jefferies did not taste defeat on his return.
Boyd produced a polished finish on the stroke of half time to give Kilmarnock an unlikely point after defender Sean Hessey had been sent off moments earlier.
Hessey aimed an elbow at Hearts midfielder Jean-Louis Valois and was immediately given his marching orders.
Kilmarnock survived a second half onslaught from the home side to escape Edinbrough with a point.
It was a match Hearts should have won and they had plenty of chances to kill off Jefferies' side.
Newcomer Phil Stamp had a superb game in midfield for the home side and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet with a second-half shot which whistled wide.
Stamp set up a shooting opportunity for Valois midway through the first half with a cute back-hee,l but the French midfielder's shot cracked off the crossbar.
Hearts took the lead in the 30th minute when Paul McMullan notched his first goal for the club with a superb left-foot shot from all of 30 yards.
But Hearts were caught napping in the final minutes of the first half when Craig Dargo pounced on a clearance from Gordon Marshall to set Boyd free and he rounded Roddy McKenzie to score.
Hearts dominated the second half but could not find a way past Marshall.
Scott Severin forced a great save from the Killie goalkeeper with a 10-yard shot and then Marshall blocked a volley from Steve Boyack.
Marshall was beaten in the 76th minute by Mark De Vries, but Peter Canero headed the ball off the line.
With three minutes left defender Kevin McKenna beat Marshall again with a lob in a crowded area, but Freddy Dindeleux again headed off the line