Hearts got off to the perfect start when they caught Kilmarnock sleeping from a free-kick involving Saulius Mikoliunas after 15 minutes. Paul Hartley was quick off the mark as he played in Mikoliunas beyond Liam Fontaine, leaving the young Lithuianian hitman to round Alan Combe and slip home his first Hearts' goal.
It was turning out to be a repeat of last week's onslaugt on the Kilmarnock goal, and Lee Miller wasted a couple of great chances before Hearts went further in front through a bizarre own goal.
Robbie Neilson hit the by-line down the right, and although his cut-back was in a dangerous area, Kilmarnock's James Fowler had no one near him as he sliced the ball past Combe into his own net.
The Killie keeper made an instinctive reflex save to keep out Miller's close-range header, but he was helpless when Dennis Wyness crashed a blistering shot off the bar a minute before half-time.
But Combe kept up his one-man resistance after the break with a remarkable double save. Firstly Mikoliunas drifted in off the right to curl a shot towards the top corner of the net. Combe managed to deflect te ball up in the air,and as his defenders stood watching, he raced across his goal to block the follow-up header from Wyness.
And although Wyness couldn't get on the scroresheet himself, he turned provider for fellow striker Miller to wrap things up for Hearts.
It was a spectacular effort from the on-loan player from Bristol City who was running away from goal when he unleased a 20-yard half- volley that dipped over Combe and into the net via the underside of the bar.
It really was the sweetest of strikes from the big target man, who has now netted four times in the last six games.
This victory will give Hearts tremendous confidence ahead of Wednesday night's vital cup match, but surely Kilmarnock can only improve on this dismal display.