Now it remains to be seen for the club owner Vladimir Romanov will keep his promise to sell his first-team squad if he didn't win this game.
It took a fine early stop from Scotland keeper Craig Gordon to keep out a scorching angle-drive from former Hearts kid Stephen Simmons.
But Hearts were in front after only 12 minutes thanks to a clanger from Roddy McKenzie in the Dunfermline goal.
The keeper misjudged Steven Pressley's long through ball and ended up pushing it into Paul Hartley's path. His quick backheel across goal was perfect for Andrius Velicka, who tapped in from close-range.
Dunfermline did come back into the game more as half-time approached and both Simmons and Jim Hamilton came close with headers.
And only two minutes into the second half Dunfermline were level. It wasn't pretty as Hamilton bundled home Simmons' downward header with more than a hint of handball.
Hearts dominated in possession terms later on and it took an exceptional goal-line clearance seconds from the end by Andy Tod to earn the Pars a hard-won point, as he headed Robbie Neilson's shot over the bar.