The age-herald., 1901-12-01


 ter for my purpose My old servant had gone to bed and no noise disturbed her slumbers, or she might have wondered
 at the flop-Aop on the stairs, as I panted
 up to the tower-room, dragging my bur der after me-
 l laid 1t at full length on the couch, face upward, and then I dropped ex- hausted into a chair, but my eyes never
 left the motionless form could not have had better subject for my operation; the condition was almost perfect. If my | Elixir animated this nearly lifeless clay, | flushed that withered cheek with youth
 and health, gave fresh strength to those | shIunken limbs, surely it would be put | tins 1t to the severest testi The man was not only old, but practically dying, | there were signs of exhausted nature | everywhere. Even if he could be brought
 round for time by natural mears, un- less something else intervened, the end | was not far off.
 I had everything in readiness for the | experiment and as soon as 1 had recov- cred my strength and composure, l pre-
 pared my patient for the ordeal. I took
 the phial containing the magic liquid out of a secret drawer and held it up to the light. Not Heck defiled it's marvel lous purity; 1t shone like molten silver. | It's strength was immense, which was fortunate, as it was almost priceless in value. At present at all events, there
 was no danger of it becoming common;
 1t would be only a privileged few who
 would be able to afford to use it. Length of years would be purchased at a gr eat
 price.
 I reused the sick man to consciousness the warmth of the room had made
 him open his eyes-and then I poured ] the Elixir into a glass and gave it to him to drink. I steadied his head as he
 raised 1t to his lips. for I feared lest he
 should spill a drop; 1 had no more. He
 had not fully recovered his senses and he gazed around with vacant eyes, emptying the glass mechanically. 1 re- placed it on the table and sat down to watch him, my heart beating as it had | not beat for years.
 | Was I to stand out for all ages as 8 | wonder figure; a man with the gift of
 a god2 Was 1t possible that l should
 revolutionize the world-the whole of hu- 1 manity? Or-or was this to be another | failure added to the many which had
 broken the hearts and frenzied the 1 brains of my brethren of all times? My I eyes were glued to his face and held l my breath, lest I should miss the first
 murmur that would tell me whether
 1t was life or-death or if my mixture could not fan the spark of life in that
  | tinguish it altogether.
 | Then-oh marvel of marvels!-slowly saw something at work under the grey | slzin making 1t fair and soft, smoothing | out the wrinkles, giving firmness and | roundness to what was loose and worn; the limbs filled out and even in repose suggested the elasticity of youth. From | head to foot age dropped away like | garment, leaving new creation. Then, | last of all the eyes unclOSed.
 I had scarcely noticed them when the face was old; now that it was young
 was almost overwhelmed by their gaze. They were so bright and dazzling; so | alive. It was almist like looking into the
 sun. They were the eyes of triumphant youth-I had nearly said of triumphant evil. There was not 8 trace in them
 of the innocence or ignorance of youth, they were young only by their fire and daring and the absence of any touch of sorrow or regret as age inevitably brings It was not a pleasant mixture the bril- liance of youth united with the knowl- edge and experience of old age; that
 was the expression of the dark eyes that | were gazing half mockingly into mine And I was conscious that it was the Knowledge and experience of life that had been evil beyond the ordinary wick | edness of man.
 For a moment, struck by the baleful | light that shone from his eyes and met
 mine like blow, forget to exult in my | success; I did not realize my triumph. | Then, all at once, it rushed over me; knew what had done-I saw wealth and honor waiting for me and-best of all- | long years in which to increase my | knowledge. The great secret was mine; I had reached the goal so many had
 struggled in vain to win.
 I stood up and cried aloud in my ex- citement; I staggered up and down the room, clasping and unclasping my hands, murmuring broken sentences aloud, half
 mad with joy. Then, suddenly, I turned towards the couch, as though some one
 had called me. My patient was watching
 me with a curious, mocking smile. That look was like a cold hand on my heart; 1t chilled all my enthusiasm. I, who had stood close to the Magic Circle without fear, holding barley with what was on the other side, felt something now, face
 to face with this thing of my own creat-
 ing, that was almost like dread. I con- trolIed myself in a moment and went up
 to the couch. Perhaps I had rejoiced too
 soon. I should have waited to see
 whether this rejuvenescence was likely
 to endure. I looked at him closely, my
 fingers on his wrist. where the pulse
 beat full and strong.
 You have been ill.," I said, addressing the motionless figure, which only re-
 turned my gaze, as though it could read
 my heart and soul, and said not a word.
 Are you feeling better?"
 Then at last the man spoke.
 q am tired that Is all," he said in rich musical voice. And 1t amused me to watch you. What is the matter?'
 had no intention of attempting to ex- plain my experiment to him, so I ignored his remark.
 You must be hungry I said and l fetched food and wine and set them on the table I watched him curiously as he got up. He moved his limbs with a slow, easy grace, asSof one who rouses himself from slumber, and when he stood erect I marveled at the beauty of his form and face. He seemed to palpitate with life from head to foot. He had the appear ance of man in his prime. with every nerve and muscle in perfect working or der. But in his face was light and fire that had never seen in a man be- fore! 1t was something superhuman. If an evil spirit were caged in a covering of fiesh 1t might look as this man did.
 He did not eat much, but he finished the bottle of Burgundy, which he evident ly drank with relish. The penero,s vvipa