  The molecular coordination complex NiI$_2$(3,5-lut)$_4$ [where (3,5-lut) $=$
(3,5-lutidine) $=$ (C$_7$H$_9$N)] has been synthesized and characterized by
several techniques including synchrotron X-ray diffraction, ESR, SQUID
magnetometry, pulsed-field magnetization, inelastic neutron scattering and muon
spin relaxation. Templated by the configuration of 3,5-lut ligands the
molecules pack in-registry with the Ni--I$\cdots$I--Ni chains aligned along the
$c$--axis. This arrangement leads to through-space I$\cdots$I magnetic coupling
which is directly measured for the first time in this work. The net result is a
near-ideal realization of the $S = 1$ Haldane chain with $J = 17.5~\rm{K}$ and
energy gaps of $\Delta^{\parallel} = 5.3~{\rm K}$ $\Delta^{\perp} =7.7~{\rm
K}$, split by the easy-axis single-ion anisotropy $D=-1.2~{\rm K}$. The ratio
$D/J = -0.07$ affords one of the most isotropic Haldane systems yet discovered,
while the ratio $\Delta_0/J = 0.40(1)$ (where $\Delta_0$ is the average gap
size) is close to its ideal theoretical value, suggesting a very high degree of
magnetic isolation of the spin chains in this material. The Haldane gap is
closed by orientation-dependent critical fields $\mu_0H_{\rm c}^{\parallel} =
5.3~\rm{T}$ and $\mu_0H_{\rm c}^{\perp} = 4.3~\rm{T}$, which are readily
accessible experimentally and permit investigations across the entirety of the
Haldane phase, with the fully polarized state occurring at $\mu_0 H_{\rm
s}^{\parallel}=46.0~\rm{T}$ and $\mu_0 H_{\rm s}^{\perp}=50.7~\rm{T}$. The
results are explicable within the so-called fermion model, in contrast to other
reported easy-axis Haldane systems. Zero-field magnetic order is absent down to
$20~{\rm mK}$ and emergent end-chain effects are observed in the gapped state,
as evidenced by detailed low-temperature measurements.
