The herald., 1893-07-23
of fire again sprang up. which LASTED un.


| til the water was consumed.
"'You see, my first trial was no illu
sion,' he said, turning to me. What
have done once can do every time
set is terrible thingr / exclaimed
with a shudder But why have yor
come to meY
"'Because the secret is worth much tt
me. But when / approach men they cal
me mad and will not listen. They will
believe you, and when you have proved
what can do they win gladly pay my
price. Then will divide with you, and
we both shall be rich, you to live at your
ease and l to continue my Investigations,
Will you help me? and he caught me by
the arm with a clutch l seem to feel
now.
"'Help your asked in a husky voice.
Would you jeopardize the lives of the
whole human race for few paltry thou
sands? A man of your great intellect
and research should be above
"'You still doubt my ability to do
what clairnY he interrupted. Perhaps
in the open air you think l would fail?
Come with me and ! will astonish even
you. See, the storm has cleared away,
and the day is breaking
II was puzzled what to do. There
was no one in the house upon whom
could call for assistance, but outdoors
might escape the man. whom, / confess,
feared. So consented to accompany
him.
1.-THE morning light was fast dispelling
the shadows of night and storm, and we
had no difficulty in making our way to a
little body Of water quite hemmed in by
the mountains and the forest. My COM
panion, as if fearing l would attempt to
escape, had not taken his gaze from me
since we had left the house.
"'There is a good place to test our
work, he declared. pointing to a small
pool of water formed in a depression of
the earth by the late storm.
Without waiting for my reply he
threw some of the potassium and powder
into the water. The result was startling
to me, though had anticipated the con-
sequence.
1.-The report was deafening, and the
flames seemed to leap to the sky, illu-
the night scene with ghastly
light, but startling as was helight of the
burning water the appearance of my
who had seemed to be sud-
denly transformed into a demon, was
more terrible.
See, seeP he cried, dancing to and
fro with fiendish glee, it burns-will
burn till the pool is dry. What do you
1hink Of my secret now? Do not hold
he key to all life? Oh, feel like god,
md all men are but worms crawling at
ny feetl See, the flames leap higher and
ligherr
Now, let me drop the same agents
which set that pool on fire into this lake,
md the result will be the same. Aye,
he same, only a million times moro
,rand, for the fire will follow the river
o the gulf and thence to the ocean, to
nvelop the entire world in its blazing
heet. What sight for the gods to wit
ess!"
He gesticulated fercely and reached
ne arm over the water, as if to drop
he Internal powder upon its placid
'osom, his wild looking figure lit up by
he transplendent glow of the burning
'ool. gazed with awe upon him, real
zing only too we'll the terrible earnest
less of his tone.
"'Waitr cried hoarsely, you forget
,he money. Your secret is worth
"'Bah! Who prates of money with
ringing world at his feetY he shrieked.
They laugh at me. Now let their tears
,ut out the flames my hand has kindled.
,eel The potassium, it fumes, misses,
lances upon the water! Now the pow
"Imagine who can the horror of my
situation. The blood seemed to freeze in
ny veins. My limbs seemed paralyzed,
,ut l quickly overcame my lethargy.
The life of every being in the world was
n my hands. Nerving myself for the
blow, felled the mad scientist dead at
ny feet. At that moment the fire be-
lind me expired. The world was saved.
"You know the rest. l was discov-
red in the act of dealing the fatal blow
~ men who could not understand the
mmeasurable deed / had done. You
aved my life. In the sight of God feel
hat / have committed no crime, but
hall die easier knowing that when am
zone the truth will be known to the
world. My conscience is clear, and yet
he secret has pointed in my every ac-
ion like O finger of fire. ."-Et-Bits.