The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-04-18
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 ,empeaaioa q the Elixir Of Death knsw 90 man aaEaps saougA n gishaaend that temptasien end Miaa enousA sa yield the power soseIF f0s the hsnest ci aM man kind. fkmew 10 man whO would have selfresaraint enough not Co mslke use of he Elixir 0f Dc&fh for the fufheFance of lis own selfinterest. The longer con s;dered this question, the less [ felt dis posed to lst the great secret pass from my own keeping. In time began 10 doubt even my own worthiness to have and to hold the EIixir of Death. saw that even in my own hands, the proper exercise of the mighty power possessed depended wholly on my own falli ole judgment; and 1 feared that day might come when my will should be weaker and when I myself might yield to the temptation and use the Elixir of Death for some paltry purpose of my own.
 Then was awakened to the solemn fact that il there was no one to whom could intrust the Elixir of Death alter had ceased to live, and if there was even doubt whether myself were altogether. to be trusted to use 1t only at the right moment, then, alas, the discovery had been futile, and all hope of it's bcnefiting the world was vain. Slowly awakened to the absolute uselessness of the Elixir of Death. That it was a mighty engine of good to mankind knew, but there was no man fit to be trusted with its keep ing.
 When this chilling truth was borne in upon me, had a moment of profound Encouragement. And at this moment my thoughts went back to my wife whose life had taken in the search for what was worthless now 1 had it. saw the mournfnl and appealing glance of her large eyes as we stood side by side in the cabin of tbe steamship just before she went away to her lonely death in desolate mid-ocean. Life had no longer anything to offer to me but.the bitterness of ashes, everything sank from under me at once. One night, as sat in the laboratory, with my eye fixed on the little vial which held the product of my thankless toil, l saw Lillian enter the room, smiling sadly. She stood before me for a minute, and then withdrew as mysteriously as she had come, beckoning to me as she dis appeared.
 Then ! made a solemn VOW, which have performed to the best of my ability. Lillian had died by my hand from the sudden stoppage of the habit of arsenic. eating. 1 must die the same death. This was my resolve. began arsenic eating at once, and as was stronger than she had been, and as had nothing now to fear, increased the dose more fre- quently than had dared to do with her. felt the burning bangs for fsur days every fortnight as ! increased the daily dose. In less than half the time have reached the same amount she took be- fore sent her away to die. She died alone en the I3'h of November. and on the I3th of November, to-day, shall die the same death and in the same loneii- ness. She was buried at sea, but it may be days before am missed, and they break in here to find my body. Twelve days ago l took my daily allowance of four grains of arsenic, and since then have not touched it; ought to die to- night. My strength is greater than hers and my constitution is stronger, and fight harder against the suddenly re- leased power of the accumulated poison. It may be that it will not kill me to-day, but shall die tonight, for all that. If the arsenic does not do its work in season, Ihave here the little vial of the Elixir of Death, and it shall be of service to man. kind for once at least.-Brander Mat Mes0s, in Beigravia.