perpetuated　a　race　as　ephemeral　as　itself。〃
  But　Georgiana　had　no　sooner　touched　the　flower　than　the　whole　plant
  suffered　a　blight；　its　leaves　turning　coal…black；　as　if　by　the
  agency　of　fire。
  〃There　was　too　powerful　a　stimulus；〃　said　Aylmer　thoughtfully。
  To　make　up　for　this　abortive　experiment；　he　proposed　to　take　her
  portrait　by　a　scientific　process　of　his　own　invention。　It　was　to　be
  effected　by　rays　of　light　striking　upon　a　polished　plate　of　metal。
  Georgiana　assented…　but；　on　looking　at　the　result；　was　affrighted　to
  find　the　features　of　the　portrait　blurred　and　indefinable；　while　the
  minute　figure　of　a　hand　appeared　where　the　cheek　should　have　been。
  Aylmer　snatched　the　metallic　plate；　and　threw　it　into　a　jar　of
  corrosive　acid。
  Soon；　however；　he　forgot　these　mortifying　failures。　In　the
  intervals　of　study　and　chemical　experiment；　he　came　to　her；　flushed
  and　exhausted；　but　seemed　invigorated　by　her　presence；　and　spoke　in
  glowing　language　of　the　resources　of　his　art。　He　gave　a　history　of　the
  long　dynasty　of　the　Alchemists；　who　spent　so　many　ages　in　quest　of　the
  universal　solvent；　by　which　the　Golden　Principle　might　be　elicited
  from　all　things　vile　and　base。　Aylmer　appeared　to　believe；　that；　by
  the　plainest　scientific　logic；　it　was　altogether　within　the　limits
  of　possibility　to　discover　this　long…sought　medium；　but；　he　added；　a
  philosopher　who　should　go　deep　enough　to　acquire　the　power；　would
  attain　too　lofty　a　wisdom　to　stoop　to　the　exercise　of　it。　Not　less
  singular　were　his　opinions　in　regard　to　the　Elixir　Vitae。　He　more　than
  intimated；　that　it　was　at　his　option　to　concoct　a　liquid　that　should
  prolong　life　for　years…　perhaps　interminably…　but　that　it　would
  produce　a　discord　in　nature；　which　all　the　world；　and　chiefly　the
  quaffer　of　the　immortal　nostrum；　would　find　cause　to　curse。
  〃Aylmer；　are　you　in　earnest？〃　asked　Georgiana；　looking　at　him
  with　amazement　and　fear；　〃it　is　terrible　to　possess　such　power；　or
  even　to　dream　of　possessing　it。
  〃Oh；　do　not　tremble；　my　love！〃　said　her　husband；　〃I　would　not　wrong
  either　you　or　myself；　by　working　such　inharmonious　effects　upon　our
  lives。　But　I　would　have　you　consider　how　trifling；　in　comparison；　is
  the　skill　requisite　to　remove　this　little　Hand。〃
  At　the　mention　of　the　birthmark；　Georgiana；　as　usual；　shrank；　as　if
  a　red…hot　iron　had　touched　her　cheek。
  Again　Aylmer　applied　himself　to　his　labors。　She　could　hear　his
  voice　in　the　distant　furnace…room；　giving　directions　to　Aminadab；
  whose　harsh；　uncouth；　mis…shapen　tones　were　audible　in　response；
  more　like　the　grunt　or　growl　of　a　brute　than　human　speech。　After　hours
  of　absence；　Aylmer　reappeared；　and　proposed　that　she　should　now
  examine　his　cabinet　of　chemical　products；　and　natural　treasures　of　the
  earth。　Among　the　former　he　showed　her　a　small　vial；　in　which；　he
  remarked；　was　contained　a　gentle　yet　most　powerful　fragrance；
  capable　of　impregnating　all　the　breezes　that　blow　across　a　kingdom。
  They　were　of　inestimable　value；　the　contents　of　that　little　vial；　and；
  as　he　said　so；　he　threw　some　of　the　perfume　into　the　air；　and　filled
  the　room　with　piercing　and　invigorating　delight。
  〃And　what　is　this？〃　asked　Georgiana；　pointing　to　a　small　crystal
  globe；　containing　a　gold…colored　liquid。　〃It　is　so　beautiful　to　the
  eye；　that　I　could　imagine　it　the　Elixir　of　Life。〃
  〃In　one　sense　it　is；〃　replied　Aylmer；　〃or　rather　the　Elixir　of
  Immortality。　It　is　the　most　precious　poison　that　ever　was　concocted　in
  this　world。　By　its　aid；　I　could　apportion　the　life…time　of　any
  mortal　at　whom　you　might　point　your　finger。　The　strength　of　the　dose
  would　determine　whether　he　were　to　linger　out　years；　or　drop　dead　in
  the　midst　of　a　breath。　No　king；　on　his　guarded　throne；　could　keep
  his　life；　if　I；　in　my　private　station；　should　deem　that　the　welfare　of
  millions　justified　me　in　depriving　him　of　it。〃
  〃Why　do　you　keep　such　a　terrific　drug？〃　inquired　Georgiana　in
  horror。
  〃Do　not　mistrust　me；　dearest！〃　said　her　husband；　smiling；　〃its
  virtuous　potency　is　yet　greater　than　its　harmful　one。　But；　see！　here
  is　a　powerful　cosmetic。　With　a　few　drops　of　this；　in　a　vase　of
  water；　freckles　may　be　washed　away　as　easily　as　the　hands　are
  cleansed。　A　stronger　infusion　would　take　the　blood　out　of　the　cheek；
  and　leave　the　rosiest　beauty　a　pale　ghost。〃
  〃Is　it　with　this　lotion　that　you　intend　to　bathe　my　cheek？〃　asked
  Georgiana；　anxiously。
  〃Oh；　no！〃　hastily　replied　her　husband…　〃this　is　merely　superficial。
  Your　case　demands　a　remedy　that　shall　go　deeper。〃
  In　his　interviews　with　Georgiana；　Aylmer　generally　made　minute
  inquiries　as　to　her　sensations；　and　whether　the　confinement　of　the
  rooms；　and　the　temperature　of　the　atmosphere；　agreed　with　her。　These
  questions　had　such　a　particular　drift；　that　Georgiana　began　to
  conjecture　that　she　was　already　subjected　to　certain　physical
  influences；　either　breathed　in　with　the　fragrant　air；　or　taken　with
  her　food。　She　fancied；　likewise…　but　it　might　be　altogether　fancy…
  that　there　was　a　stirring　up　of　her　system：　a　strange；　indefinite
  sensation　creeping　through　her　veins；　and　tingling；　half…painfully；
  half…pleasurably；　at　her　heart。　Still；　whenever　she　dared　to　look　into
  the　mirror；　there　she　beheld　herself；　pale　as　a　white　rose；　and　with
  the　crimson　birthmark　stamped　upon　her　cheek。　Not　even　Aylmer　now
  hated　it　so　much　as　she。
  To　dispel　the　tedium　of　the　hours　which　her　husband　found　it
  necessary　to　devote　to　the　processes　of　combination　and　analysis；
  Georgiana　turned　over　the　volumes　of　his　scientific　library。　In　many
  dark　old　tomes；　she　met　with　chapters　full　of　romance　and　poetry。　They
  were　the　works　of　the　philosophers　of　the　middle　ages；　such　as
  Albertus　Magnus；　Cornelius　Agrippa；　Paracelsus；　and　the　famous　friar
  who　created　the　prophetic　Brazen　Head。　All　these　antique　naturalists
  stood　in　advance　of　their　centuries；　yet　were　imbued　with　some　of
  their　credulity；　and　therefore　were　believed；　and　perhaps　imagined
  themselves；　to　have　acquired　from　the　investigation　of　nature　a
  power　above　nature；　and　from　physics　a　sway　over　the　spiritual
  world。　Hardly　less　curious　and　imaginative　were　the　early　volumes　of
  the　Transactions　of　the　Royal　Society；　in　which　the　members；　knowing
  little　of　the　limits　of　natural　possibility；　were　continually
  recording　wonders；　or　proposing　methods　whereby　wonders　might　be
  wrought。
  But；　to　Georgiana；　the　most　engrossing　volume　was　a　large　folio
  from　her　husband's　own　hand；　in　which　he　had　recorded　every　experiment
  of　his　scientific　career；　with　its　original　aim；　the　methods　adopted
  for　its　development；　and　its　final　success　or　failure；　with　the
  circumstances　to　which　either　event　was　attributable。　The　book；　in
  truth；　was　both　the　history　and　emblem　of　his　ardent；　ambitious；
  imaginative；　yet　practical　and　laborious；　life。　He　handled　physical
  details；　as　if　there　were　nothing　beyond　them；　yet　spiritualized
  them　all；　and　redeemed　himself　from　materialism；　by　his　strong　and
  eager　aspiration　towards　the　infinite。　In　his　grasp；　the　veriest
  clod　of　earth　assumed　a　soul。　Georgiana；　as　she　read；　reverenced
  Aylmer；　and　loved　him　more　profoundly　than　ever；　but　with　a　less
  entire　dependence　on　his　judgment　than　heretofore。　Much　as　he　had
  accomplished；　she　could　not　but　observe　that　his　most　splendid
  successes　were　almost　invariably　failures；　if　compared　with　the
  ideal　at　which　he　aimed。　His　brightest　diamonds　were　the　merest
  pebbles；　and　felt　to　be　so　by　himself；　in　comparison　with　the
  inestimable　gems　which　lay　hidden　beyond　his　reach。　The　volume；　rich
  with　achievements　that　had　won　renown　for　its　author；　was　yet　as
  melancholy　a　record　as　ever　mortal　hand　had　penned。　It　was　the　sad
  confession；　and　continual　exemplification；　of　the　short…comings　of　the
  composite　man…　the　spirit　burthened　with　clay　and　working　in　matter；
  and　of　the　despair　that　assails　the　higher　nature；　at　finding　itself
  so　miserably　thwarted　by　the　earthly　part。　Perhaps　every　man　of
  genius；　in　whatever　sphere；　might　recognize　the　image　of　his　own
  experience　in　Aylmer's　journal。
  So　deeply　did　these　reflections　affect　Georgiana；　that　she　laid　her
  face　upon　the　open　volume；　and　burst　into　tears。　In　this　situation　she
  was　found　by　her　husband。
  〃It　is　dangerous　to　read　in　a　sorcerer's　books；〃　said　he；　with　a
  smile；　though　his　countenance　was　uneasy　and　displeased。　〃Georgiana；
  there　are　pages　in　that　volume；　which　I　can　scarcely　glance　over　and
  keep　my　senses。　Take　heed　lest　it　prove　as　detrimental　to　you！〃
  It　has　made　me　worship　you　more　than　ever；〃　said　she。
  〃Ah！　wait　for　this　one　success；〃　rejoined　he；　〃then　worship　me　if
  you　will。　I　shall　deem　myself　hardly　unworthy　of　it。　But；　come！　I　have
  sought　you　for　the　luxury　of　your　voice。　Sing　to　me；　dearest！〃
  So　she　poured　out　the　liquid　music　of　her　voice　to　quench　the
  thirst　of　his　spirit。　He　then　took　his　leave；　with　a　boyish　exuberance
  of　gaiety；　assuring　her　that　her　seclusion　would　endure　but　a　little
  longer；　and　that　the　result　was　already　certain。　Scarcely　had　he
  departed；　when　Georgiana　felt　irresist