Below his pointing right hand, the full glare of the hidden lamp lights up the smooth cherubic countenances of two children, who peer intently between the brass hoops of the orrery at the moving models of the planets. Facing them in the foreground, a third childish figure, eclipsing the lamp, is shown in darkly silhouetted outline. To right and left the light streams away to disclose four other figures, each characteristically intent upon the demonstration. The scene is a dark, vaulted room, at night, in the crypt of an ancient building. The moon rides ever higher above the lofty mullioned window, revealing its tracery in stark outline.
Midnight draws nigh.
Suddenly a dim glow begins to steal into the dark receiver. The alchemist and his two acolytes shade their eyes and watch the strange sight with wonder and awe. The glow lives, and grows, and spreads, till it illumines every corner of that drear and dunky chamber with an unearthly light. The ancient alchemist raises heavenwards eyes that have long since grown dim with gazing on earthly fires. Fire is the soul of the Great All.