STRANGE STOR OF DR. SENEX E. E. BALDWIN Copyright , 1891, by the Minerva Publishing Company NEW YORK THE MINERVA PUBLISHING COMPANY 48 University Place 1891 a Mr* Pickwick* “ BEST & GOES FARTHEST,” The Standard Cocoa of the World. Cheaper and More Satisfying than Tea k Coffee. PERFECTLY FURE. Van Houten’s Patent Process increases by SO per cent- the solubility of the flesh-forming elements, 1 making of the cocoa bean an easily digestible, delicious, nourishing and stimulating drink, readily assimilated even by the most delicate invalids an c 0 fd inTs, 1-4,1-2 ana I lb. Cans. not obtainable, enclose cts to either Van Houten & Zoon, io6 Reade Street New York or i Jc Wabash Ave.. Chicago, and a can, containing enough for 35 to 40 cuds will be mailed. Mention this publication. Prepared only by > 'inventors. Van Houten & Zoon, Weesp, Holland. \ THE STRANGE STORY OF DR. SENEX. -O- INTRODUCTION. Before beginning this narrative, let me introduce myself, and state vvliat connection I have with it, and how I became the chronicler of this story, which to my mind is the strangest, and altogether most won¬ derful which has ever been my good fortune to read; but in spite of its extreme peculiarity, the earnest¬ ness which pervades every page and every line, raises the conviction in one’s mind, that the writer either is telling the truth, or that he was mad, stark mad. But I will leave those who follow the narrative, to decide as to the truth of the story or the sanity of the writer. My name is plain George Marsh, and I am a lawyer by profession, practising the same, in the town of N-, in the state of New York. ( 3 ) 4 THE STRANGE STORY OP It is an old fashioned, unprogressive town, which sleeps amid the green-clad hills, without even ade¬ quate highway communication with the neighboring cities, and as odd a place, and inhabited by as odd people as a canting Diogenes searching for something original, could wish to find. On the northern confines of the town, situated on a plot of ground covering about ten acres, with great massive shade maples and whispering pines, sur¬ rounded by a sloping green lawn, which gradually inclined to the center, there arose a large, irregular stone structure, built in a sort of rambling amalgam¬ ation of the Doric and the Gothic styles of architec¬ ture, and as a unit presenting an appearance, at once impressive and gloomy. It was an old structure, built away back in the last century and probably at an immense cost, for everything was of the most substantial kind. The wood-work of the interior was all of heart oak, and had resisted the encroachment of time and use so well, that it was in almost as good condition now, as when first fashioned. Everything was ancient; even the furniture, with which the house was provided at its completion, was still in use, and in a remarkable state of preservation. It was the one really magnificent mansion of the section, but despite its remarkably impressive appear¬ ance and the evident wealth, which its ow nei must have had in order to maintain it, a ceitain ail of gloom seemed to pervade the entire abode to such an DB. SENEX. 5 extent, that it awakened especial awe in the minds * of the town’s inhabitants. There were various reasons that produced this impression, chief among which was a sort of tradition hanging over it and its present proprietor which ran as follows : The present owner, had been living there for a great many years, attended by a few servants only, who were prohibited from mingling with the people of the town; indeed, it was said that the doors had never been opened to any of the villagers and not one person in the entire place had even been within its walls. The oldest inhabitants, declared, that when they were boys, the present incumbent was the proprietor and well advanced in years at that. I had seen this mysterious person but once prior to the commencement of this story, and although I shared in the curiosity of the rest respecting this mysterious place, and its still more mysterious master, yet I was not a sharer to the same degree in the awe with which it impressed others. This may be ac¬ counted for by the fact that I was an old bachelor, had practiced law many years, and had traveled much ; besides, I was by nature unimaginative and extremely practical. But I confess that whenever I drove past the place, there arose in me a wish—nay, even a morbid desire, to be able to unravel the mys¬ tery which surrounded Blackthorn Hall, and its strange master, Dr. Senex. 6 THE STRANGE STORY OF And thus it happened that I, plain Lawyer Marsh, seemed destined by fortune to penetrate those gloomy walls, and become the medium through whom a strange man was to make known to the world the wonderful experiences of a still stranger life. I was sitting in my study one cold December night, reading Bulwer’s fascinating novel, “A Strange Story.” It was a fearful night; the wind was holding high carnival, blowing in frightful gusts up and down the village streets and rushing at a made pace around the corners, as if rejoiced at its own potency, and man's discomfort. It was a good time to remain in doors, drawn up before a blazing grate fire with a good novel for a companion, and I was congratulating myself that I was not a miserable physician to be compelled to go out in the fearful storm, when suddenly, the door¬ bell rang and the servant brought up word that there was a man who wished to see me at once, on very important business. Wondering what could bring any one to my door on such a night, I ordered the servant to show him up. He returned ushering in an old man, dressed in the costume of a century ago, with long white hair done up in a cue, and the customary three-cornered hat our grandfathers wore. His form was enveloped in an old-fashioned military cloak, that might have belonged to an old Continental. DR. SENEX. 7 When he had entered he doffed his hat and bowing low, begged my pardon for the intrusion. “Am I addressing Lawyer Marsh? ” he asked. I responded that he was, and requested him to take a seat. “ Mr. Marsh,” said he, “I will explain my errand at once, so as not to intrude longer than necessary upon you, if you should not be willing to fulfill a request, I have to make of you. “I don’t suppose you know who I am, and perhaps you have never seen me, although, I have lived in this village for many years. “ You look surprised ; never mind, time is too short to explain now; you will comprehend all in due season, but suffice it for the present to say, I am the confidential servant of Doctor Senex.” I had been watching the old man since he entered, wondering who on earth he could be, and when he announced himself as the servant of Dr. Senex, my surprise was indeed complete. “ Well sir what is your errand with me ? ” I asked. • The man pulled his chair close to me, and then, peering around as if afraid of being overheard, leaned over and putting his mouth close to my ear, said, “ My master is dying. “ I came here at his request to urge you to accom¬ pany me to his bed-side at once, as he has important matters to talk over with you before life departs.” “ I understand,” said I; “ perhaps he desires me 8 THE STRANGE STORY OF to draw his will, and advise about the disposition of his estate.” “ I do not know the nature of his business with you, but will you come? ” he inquired anxiously. It was a most disagreeable night in which to venture out, and I must confess my selfishness almost impelled me to refuse. But for an increasing desire and curiosity to see this strange being, and to learn more about him and his strange abode, I would have been sorely tempted to decline. “ It is terrible weather to go out in,” I said. “ Never mind the weather,” he answered ; “ I have a closed carriage at the door; but sir, I beseech you, decide quickly, for time is precious! ” “Very well, I will accompany you.” Hastily throwing on my great overcoat, and pull¬ ing my hat well down over my ears, I went with the old man out into the storm. At the door stood an old-fashioned coach, drawn by four coal black horses, accoutred with a harness as antique as the coach itself, and driven by a driver a counterpart, in everything but the features, to my companion. We entered the carriage and in a few.minutes were whirling along at a rapid pace toward our destina¬ tion. The old man, ensconced in the corner of the car¬ riage, uttered not a word, and thus left, as it were, to myself, I began to speculate as to what would be the outcome of the journey. DR. SENEX. 9 Why had Dr. Senex sent for me, in preference to my brother attorneys at the bar, and what could he want with me ? Thus I ruminated until interrupted by the stoppage of the carriage which was brought to a stand-still with such abruptness, that I was almost precipitated into the old man’s arms. “ Here we are,” said he, opening the door and assisting me to alight, “ not without discomfort sir, but I trust, with due dispatch.” And taking me by the arm, he conducted me up the broad steps, onto the immense portico, whose towering roof sustained by massive Corinthian pillars, added greatly to the majestic appearance of the structure. Without delay he sounded the old fashioned bronze knocker, which, fastened to one of the panels of the great oak door, was a becoming fixture, both as re¬ gards massiveness and antiquity, to the time-stained edifice. A sliding of bolts and creaking of hinges, and the great portal opened to receive us. Just within the vestibule, stood a little old dwarf of a man, whom I at first mistook for a negro, but whom I afterwards learned was a Hindoo whom the eccentric doctor had picked up somewhere in India. He made a low obeisance, but spoke not a word as he held the door open for us to enter, closing and bolting it as soon as we had passed the threshold. My companion opened the door leading into the great hall and ushered me in. For a moment I stood irresolute, for the very massiveness of everything, 10 THE STRANGE STORY OF and the gloom which pervaded every part, impressed me with a peculiar awe which I had never felt be¬ fore. The hall itself was square; a magnificent oak stairway led up to the next floor, and the wainscot¬ ing of old oak was exquisitely carved and extended fully six feet from the floor. At one end was a huge fire-place in which some smoldering logs cast a dim and flickering light, leav¬ ing the corners of the room dark, and all objects imperfectly defined. While I stood contemplating the surroundings, the old man motioned to the dwarf to stir up the burning embers and to put on fresh fuel, while he, after awakening me, as it were, from my rev v erie, helped me divest myself of my wraps. He then conducted me into an adjoining apart¬ ment which had been designed ostensibly, at some past time, for a reception-room. A roaring fire in the old-fashioned fire-place, illuminated the room and cast out a welcome heat, which in a measure restored my equanimity of spirits. “You will remain here, Mr. Marsh,” said the old man, “ while I make known to my master that you have arrived.” Thus left to myself for a few minutes, I occupied my time by scrutinizing the apartment more closely. Massiveness and antiquity were displayed in every feature. The rich hangings of the draperies, tallied well with the exquisite workmanship of the paneling. DR. SENEX. 11 The carpets were of such costly material and delicate coloring, that it almost seemed a sacrilege to tread upon them. Old-fashioned portraits of men and women dressed in the costume of past generations adorned the walls, the solemn faces seeming to grow more sombre, as if resenting my intrusion. One large oil painting, directly over the old-fash¬ ioned fire-place, riveted my attention. Looking at it directly from in front, it appeared to be the likeness of an old man seated at a chemist’s desk, with a manuscript on his knee and a graduating glass in his hand, containing a red tinted mixture, which he seemed to be examining with close attention. But upon stepping to one side so that the light struck the likeness from a different direction, I was startled to notice that the appearance of the face had changed ; I no longer saw features, upon which time had traced the lines of age, but those of a young man whose every lineament beamed with the joyousness of youth and conscious strength. Was I dreaming? had my eyesight failed me? or was I the victim of some unheard of trick of leger¬ demain, exercised so potently by this speechless, yet living canvas ? Marvelling much, I again took my former position, intent upon verifying my first impression, and there beheld again the old man: and stepping alternately from side to side, with each change of position, the same transition would occur from age to youth, from youth to age. What did it all mean? With my 12 THE STRANGE STORY OF curiosity aroused to the highest pitch, I approached still closer, intent upon unraveling the mysterious phenomena4 but the canvas maintained its secret well in spite of the most minute investigation, and all that I found to reward my efforts was a name at the lower right hand corner. This name was almost effaced, but I could make out that it was Abdul Rah. Perplexed beyond expression, I again resumed my seat, and gave myself up to conjecture and contem¬ plation, until I was aroused by the return of the old servant, who announced that his master awaited me. “ Is that,” said I, arising and pointing to the picture, “ the portrait of an old man, or a youth ? When I look at it from one position it is the former, and when from another, it is the latter. Is it the handiwork of man or the devil, or am I demented, or deceived by my senses? ” “ Neither, sir ; the portrait appears the same to me as to you. It has hung in that position since I was a boy, and all I know of its history is that my master obtained it in India a long time ago. It has per¬ plexed me for years.” “ You say that it has been in that same place since you were a boy, and yet your master obtained it himself in India. Why, sir, would you have me be¬ lieve that he is more than a centenarian, for surely you have reached man’s full four score years and ten, yourself?” That is true, but he is much older than I, very DR. SENEX. 13 much older. But he awaits us; be pleased to follow me.” Mystery upon mystery ; first the picture, and now an improbable story as to the age of the master. I began to think the old man demented, and even to doubt my own sanity. I followed him up the broad staircase, to the land¬ ing above, where he opened a door and asked me to enter. Carefully closing this door he led me into a room, and drawing aside some heavy oriental cur¬ tains, announced to the occupant within, Mr. Marsh, most respected sir;” and making a low obei¬ sance, motioned me to enter, which I did. As I stepped within the chamber, I confess that I experienced sensations which I had never felt before ; a feeling of curiosity, mingled with a vaguely defined fear, a feeling not at all likely to reassure one under the circumstances. Overcoming this weakness, which for the moment seized upon me, I walked to the center of the room, and stood irreso¬ lute, expecting the servant to follow and indicate what would be necessary to be done—as I supposed that his master would be too ill to receive me. The room was dimly lighted by a uniquely shaped lamp depending from the ceiling. Upon first behold¬ ing it, I thought it was a human skull, but upon closer examination, I perceived that it was made of silver. The light it cast came through the eyes, and illumined the apartment in a ghostly sort of way, 14 THE STRANGE STORY OF at the same time giving out -a peculiar odor of in¬ cense. By the faint light, however, I was enabled to see that the room itself was circular, with a dome-shaped ceiling, and without a window. The floor was of tiles, laid so that there were four circles of different colors, one inside of the other, each divided into four segments. The only piece of furniture was an old- fasliioned clock, with a dial as unique as the lamp. It was marked off in circles and segments in exact counterpart to the floor, but with the addition, that at the end of each segment were carved figures, rep¬ resenting the four epochs in man’s existence, begin¬ ning with a child at the end of the upper; a youth at the right; a man in his prime at the lower, and old age at the left. But where was Dr. Senex? I was certainly the only occupant of the room, and yet his servaht had announced me, as if he were there. There was no bed upon which one would naturally expect to find a man in a dying condition, nor even an invalid’s chair ; I was alone. Standing there without even a chair to rest in while awaiting the appearance of the strange man, I was fast beginning to regret that I had left my comfortable room and cosy fire to come to such an extraordinary place as this, when suddenly the light in the skull shone forth with great brilliancy, and a small door, which had escaped my notice, from its / DR. SENEX. 15 resemblance to the rest of the paneling, opened and Dr. Senex stood before me. He approached me with a faltering step, and ex¬ tending his hand, which was cold and clammy as death itself, said: “Sir, I have been awaiting you ; let me thank you for your promptness; the sand in my glass of life is well nigh run, and before another sun shall have peeped through the lattice work of its Eastern cham¬ ber, my soul will have been absorbed by the great soul of which it is a part. Time, therefore, is pre¬ cious, and that for which I have summoned you must be done quickly.” The mystery of his words together with the fact that, he seemed to retain vigor and vitality sufficient to preserve him for some time to come, instead of being upon his death-bed, led me to think he had imposed upon me, in sending for me on such a pre¬ text. My countenance evidently betrayed my thoughts, for still retaining my hand in his, he said: “ You no doubt are surprised at finding me able to receive you. Well, this world is full of strange things, but you shall know all in due time. “ Behold that clock ; when the hand on the face of the dial shall have reached the last radius, at which the figure of death presides, my life’s course will have been run. See what a small distance it must yet move to complete the cycle. It moves wondrous 16 THE STRANGE STORY OP fast, too fast by far, yet it is but the recording mechan¬ ism of fate, which is now well nigh run down. “ This room, is my chamber of life, consecrated to Kronos, and here for many long years have I sued to this arbiter of time to make known, when for me time would cease to run ; here in this chamber, after years of toil and unceasing application, I have solved the equation of life,—given the known factors life and time, to find the unknown quantity, existence,— and I have found it, too. Many, many years ago I computed the exact limit of my existence, and with each succeding day I have come to this room to verify my equation. This room was fashioned to conform with the nature of the work to be consum¬ mated here. It is circular, as you perceive, in order to represent time,—for time is but an infinite circle, and life is a finite one contained within it, and all human events are but cycles revolving within its periphery.’ 5 While he was thus talking I had sufficient oppor¬ tunity to examine him to my satisfaction. He was a man below the average height, with strongly mark¬ ed features and eyes so piercing, that my own invol¬ untarily shrank from meeting them ; his head, covered with long snow white hair, was of magnificent proportions, indicative of the subtle intellect that stirred within, and although he maintained an erect carriage, there was an appearance of such wonderful age about him, that it seemed to me that the oldest man I had ever seen was but a child in years com- I DR. SENEX. 17 pared to him. A subtle magnetism seemed to per¬ vade him to such an extent that I was drawn to him with a force impossible to withstand. “ But, sir, I waste time, valuable time while ex¬ plaining these things to you; come with me into my laboratory, where I will make known to you the business on account of which I have sent for you. I can not think of mere physical affairs while re¬ maining in this chamber, dedicated as it is to the contemplation of more spiritual, and to me, far more serious subjects.” And, turning, he led me through the door through which he had appeared, into a room he called his laboratory. It was a veritable chemist’s shop, with all kinds and manner of apparatus and appliances such as chemists use. One side of the room was furnished with shelves, filled with myriads of bottles and jars, containing an endless variety of herbs, drugs, minerals, one and all carefully labelled. In the center was a long table, evidently his work-bench, upon which were placed a distilling appartus, grad¬ uated vessels, and a variety of other appliances, the use of which was unknown to me. At another side of the room was an old-fashioned desk, covered with paper and manuscripts, which were strewn around in the utmost confusion. Just opposite the desk was a large glass case, in which was a human skeleton, held in an upright position by some kind of support not patent. “This,” said the old man, gazing around the room 2 4 18 THE STRANGE STORY OF with a look of pride and satisfaction, 44 is my work shop, and in fact my real abode,—here it is, where I have wrung from Nature some of her most hidden secrets, secrets which have baffled man ever since he first began to inquire into the causes of phenom¬ ena. Be seated, sir,” he continued, motioning me to a chair while he placed himself at his desk. 44 Mr. Marsh, you no doubt have wondered why I have sent for you; let me say as my first reason, that I know of you, and consider you to be an honest and a sensible man; I knew your father and your father’s father, and his father before him, and the present representative of your race, I doubt not, is worthy of his ancestors. “ While I have not mingled in the affairs of this community for a great number of years, yet know¬ ing that at a certain time I would need the services of a man such as you, I have kept myselfi posted as to your qualifications and your standing.” 44 You flatter me, sir,” said I, 44 and confer upon me an honor of which I am afraid I am not worthy.” “I have made no mistake,” he answered, “I will abide by my choice with perfect assurance as to the result. 44 1 have selected you for two reasons, first because you have the reputation of being a sound and consci¬ entious lawyer; and second, because I believe you to be a man who would execute a trust with intelli¬ gence and fidelity. 44 I am the possessor of a large estate, the disposi- 19 BE. SENEX. tion of which I have provided for by a will, properly drawn and witnessed, and which names you as exec¬ utor. “ I desire you to carry out the provisions of the will, to the strict letter,—using of course your own discretion and judgment as to the proper means thereto. “ I have no heirs and not a single relative now living, that I know of. “It is my wish that this homestead, which I my¬ self built, and designed for a certain object, shall be converted into a laboratory for the purpose of study¬ ing the relations of matter, and if possible to dis¬ cover and utilize whatever may tend to prolong the life of man. To that end I have arranged so that the income on the balance of my property shall be sufficient to employ competent scientific men to de¬ vote their time exclusively to such subjects. You are to be the sole and responsible head of the insti¬ tution, and the manner of conducting the establish¬ ment is carefully set forth in my will. “Furthermore, I have stipulated that all the serv¬ ants in my employ at the present time shall be main¬ tained at the expense of my estate as long as they shall live. “ This is all in the nature of a continuing trust, with yourself as sole trustee, and at your death the State will succeed you in that capacity. “ This, sir, is the will,” he continued, taking a large sealed envelope from the desk and handing it 20 THE STRANGE STORY OF to me. “ And may you faithfully execute the mis¬ sion entrusted to you. “ I have one other request to make ; upon my death you will open the safe and in the top drawer you will find a manuscript which contains a history of my life, a history which I have recently completed. This manuscript is sealed, and I desire you to place it in a safe place and not to break the seal or to read its contents until one year from to-night. Then you are at liberty to open the same, to read it, and to make known its contents to the world, if you so de¬ sire. Promise me you will do as I request,” he added holding forth his hand in a beseeching manner. “ You may rely upon me, sir,” I answered. “ I believe you, Mr. Marsh, and have the greatest faith in your honor.” “Dr. Senex,” said I, “I hope you will not think it strange, if I ask from you an explanation of your reason for believing that your death is near at hand ; for although you have the appearanee of an old man, yet, there is nothing either in your appearance or your manner that would indicate that dissolution is imminent. It would be hard for me to express to you my surprise at finding you in such apparent good health, for your servant conveyed the idea to me that you were dying.” “Ah, my young friend you little know the real condition of men by their appearance. The body is but a shell—an outward covering for that which really lives —it may have the appearance of health DR. SENEX. 21 and enduring vitality, even when the inner structure is fast crumbling to decay, and so it is with me. This tenement of clay is like some ancient structure that stands apparently strong ; but an examination of the interior shows that its collapse is imminent. Before the sun shall rise to-morrow, I will be num¬ bered with the dead.” As the old man said this, he walked to the table, poured a few drops from two small vials into a graduated glass and sprinkled some fine powder upon the mixture. Thick fumes arose at once from the glass, which he held to his nose, inhaling the fumes rapidly and strongly until they were exhausted. Next, he inverted the glass and let its contents run slowly down his throat. The effect was marvellous. It seemed as if some powerful rejuvenating agency was at work, erasing the wrinkles of age, and strengthening the enfeebled limbs. He seemed to grow taller, and, throwing back his head, he inhaled the air in great draughts as if each inhalation was freighted to intoxication with the elements of life. The transformation was so startling that I sprang to my feet with a cry of alarm, and although I be¬ lieve I am a man of good nerve, yet the scene before me bordered so nearly upon the supernatural, that I was almost paralyzed with astonishment. At my cry he turned toward me, and his face, which but a moment before had been that of age. now flushed with the healthy glow of youth; and his eyes 22 THE STRANGE STORY OF which had drooped with the weight of years, now sparkled with virile fire. I gazed at him horror-stricken, and the cold drops of perspiration started upon my brow. I seemed to have lost the power of motion, and I stood as if glued to the spot. He looked at me fixedly for a few moments, and a highly spiritual expression came upon his face. Without taking his eye from mine he raised his hand on high and said: “Remember your trust; execute its provisions faithfully and I will thank you in spirit. Think not that when the earth closes over my senseless clay, that your accountability will be alone to the instru¬ ment which names you as my earthly representative ; for although my corporeal part will have been placed beneath the destructive clod, my immortal self will view with watchful eye your work, and exact from you a faithful account, when it meets yours within the realm of the unknown.” Having in a measure recovered from the moment¬ ary fear which the change in his appearance had produced in me, I sprang toward him to sustain him, for I perceived that he was tottering and was about to fall. Seeming to divine my intention, he straightened himself by an apparently supreme effort of will, and, motioning me back, continued : “ Not yet—not yet. Almighty power that would’st encompass me, though thou bid’st me come, thou i DK. SENEX. 23 knowest that I have yet a few moments. The hand of Kronos has not yet reached the last arch \ the course is not yet run, and thou knowest I can not enter thy presence unless the cycle of my existence is complete. Beckon on, exacting spirit, but thou can’st not gainsay that the divine problem of life which thou hast vouchsafed me, I solved correctly, resulting in the perfect circle; and figures never lie. No, they- Before he could complete the sentence, he was interrupted by a strange whirring sound, followed in a few seconds by the mournful striking of a gong, 1—2—3—4— and then all was silent. The effect upon him was awful to witness. It seemed as if a terrible palsy had taken possession of him ; the bloom of apparent youth was succeeded by a pallor so deathly, that it chilled me to the very marrow. His body seemed to shrink and wither, and the face, which, as I said before, had taken on the semblance of youth, almost instantly reassumed the linaments of extreme age. In a moment this wonderful transformation had left him in appearance so old, that one could well imagine that centuries had been concentrated within him. His eyes became fixed and glassy and with one convulsive shudder he fell forward upon his face. I sprang to his side and, turning him gently, raised his head on my knee. A hurried examination re¬ vealed that the old man was dead. The sensation of being alone with a dead body is 24 THE STRANGE STORY OF not a pleasant one at any time, and being in a con¬ dition of abnormal excitement from what had oc¬ curred, I looked about for some means of summoning the servants. After a short search I discovered a cord, which I pulled sharply. In a few minutes a door, which I had thought to be a panel in the wall, opened, and the old servant appeared. He stepped within, and the door by some myste¬ rious contrivance noiselessly closed. “ What is your wish, sir,” he said, and my only reply was to point to his master lying on the floor. He did not speak, but, approaching the body, knelt at the side of the man, whose commands had always been supreme with him. He took his dead master’s hand in his, and strok¬ ing it as if to assure himself that he really was dead, gazed long and fixedly in the now inanimate face. How long he would have remained in that attitude I do not know, but believing that the proper steps should be taken at once to prepare the body fittingly, I touched him on the shoulder and told him to summon help and remove the body to a proper place. He arose in a dazed, half-mechanical man¬ ner, pulled the rope two or three times, upon which the panel again opened, and an old woman, accom¬ panied by a male servant, entered. He pointed to the body, saying ; 44 Our master is dead, the one we have loved so long and who has been a father to us all, is gone. You know what his instructions have always been,—providing he should die ; it will not DB. SENEX. 25 be necessary for me to tell you what to do; his directions were explicit; see that they are carried out without delay.” They picked the body up and carried it from the room, but in a few minutes the old servant returned and asked me what my orders were. The question awakened me from my reverie to the duties and tasks that I had assumed. “ Since I arrived in this house,” I said, “ a number of startling and inexplicable things have occurred, the nature of which I will not at present divulge, but it seems as if I have been chosen to play the important part in the closing scenes and circumstances of your master’s life. This document which I hold is his last will and testament in which, he informs me, I am named as executor. It is strange that he should have chosen me to carry out his commands, but since he has done so, I will endeavor to fulfill his instructions to the letter. Whatever commands your master gave you in reference to his funeral, I hope you will see are carried out, and when this in¬ strument is regularly probated, I will take charge of his property. In the meantime I look to you to see that what is necessary, shall be done, and I leave everything in your charge.” At these words he withdrew. Before leaving, my curiosity tempted me to ex¬ amine the vial from which the old man had taken the powder which had produced the wonderful transformation before referred to. 26 THE STRANGE STORY OF But it was now empty, the last grain having been used, and my examination revealed nothing as to the nature of its contents. Somewhat disappointed I turned my attention to the apparatuses with which the room was filled. I saw chemists’ paraphernalia ; odd looking machines, the use of which I could not even surmise; electric machines and appliances, and a great variety of surgical instruments and accoutre¬ ments such as one would expect to find in the pos¬ session of a man of Dr. Senex’s profession. An old- fashioned bookcase, filled with medical, scientific and philosophical works, engrossed my attention for a few minutes. It was a queer collection, but well adapted to the man. The majority of the books were works upon Alchemy. Recondite science seemed to have been the one great theme in which the doctor interested himself. Here, I found much to my surprise, a copy of Gebir’s Summa Perfectionis, in fact all the old masters of the mystic science were there ; Bacon and Albertus Magnus, Paracelsus and Valentine. As I took those musty old volumes in my hands one after another, it seemed as if by-gone ages were whispering to me from their mouldy leaves ; and I could in imagination almost see the venerable Count of Bollstodt, secluded within some retired chamber of his ecclesiastical residence, intent on re¬ tort and crucible, wasting his resources and vitality endeavoring to find the universal solvent; forgetting that, if found, it would avail him little without a vessel to resist its solubility. DR. SENEX. 27 After satisfying my curiosity for rare volumes, I opened the old-fashioned safe, and after some search among the mass of papers, obtained the manuscript before referred to. It was rolled in a peculiar kind 4 of parchment and carefully sealed. I held it in my hand and scrutinized it with no small degree of curi¬ osity, for here was the secret of this strange man’s life. I felt almost inclined to break its unique seal and at once satisfy myself in regard to the history of its strange writer; but conquering my curiosity, I placed the manuscript in my pocket, and prepared to leave the room. But that was not such an easy task, for the different exits were so much like the general paneling, that I was not quite sure through what door I had entered. I at last determined upon the right one and opening it passed into the circular chamber through which I had originally entered. The room was in total darkness, the light in the skull having gone out and even that coming through the open door did not light the way sufficiently to enable me to locate the other exit. Fortunately I had—like all inveterate smokers—some matches on my person, and I forthwith proceeded to strike one and by its feeble light inspect the room. The skull which before had stared at me through its ghastly luminous eyes, in the absence of its incandescent in¬ terior, seemed now to be doubly ghostly and sombre in the flickering light emitted by the burning match. The match expiring, I lit another and gazing at the clock perceived that the dial had ascended the last 28 THE STRANGE STORY OF arc, and had attained the ultimate radius on which perched the figure of Death. Wondering what forces had been at work to ex¬ tinguish the light‘and at the same time compel the hand on the dial to complete the cycle, so coincident with the old man’s death, I passed into the front cham¬ ber and down the stairs into the great hall. There I was met by the little aid dwarf of a man, who assisted me on with my wrap and escorted me out to the car¬ riage. I entered the odd old vehicle and in a short time found myself before the door of my own resi¬ dence. Having, as speedily as possible, reached my own comfortable den and sinking down in an easy- chair, I gave myself up to thinking over the strange things which had occurred. I suppose that in every individual there is some degree of superstition, no matter how great a ma¬ terialist or skeptic he may be. There are moments when the most anaytical and logical of minds, stop short in their assumed explanation of tilings, with a vaguety defined feeling that, there are mat¬ ters without the pale of practical reason or dem¬ onstration ; moments when after having ingen¬ iously built up an argument to explain certain phe¬ nomena, we realize that a physical demonstration is impracticable, that the cause back of the phe¬ nomena is and ever must be unknown; that the demonstrations are after all, demonstrations of re¬ sults and not first causes. So it was with me, as I endeavored to form some adequate theory on which DR. SENEX. 29 to account for the strange events. There was no way to explain what I had myself witnessed, and I was reluctantly driven to the conclusion that I had not seen what I had seen or that it was all the re¬ sult of an occult and potent force, with which the old doctor was familiar and I profoundly ignorant. With these conflicting and rather harrowing thoughts I threw myself on the bed and endeavored to catch a few minutes’ sleep, for I perceived that morning was not far distant. The next day, after I had transacted some urgent business which could not be delayed, I betook my¬ self to the office of the county surrogate, and offi¬ cially probated the will. This was the first notice the people of the village had of the strange old man’s death, and for the rest of the day I was kept busy answering questions and allaying their curiosity to know how I happened to be made the executor of his will. I explained to them all that I thought it advisable that they should know, being careful to keep from them the nature of the events which had transpired the night be¬ fore. # On the following day, according to the specific commands of Senex, given to his servants, he was buried in a remote corner of his estate, in the centre of a small grove of oaks. According to a story of the old servant, whose name was John Servetus, the doctor had himself planted these with the avowed purpose of having his grave beneath their friendly 30 THE STRANGE STORY OF shade, and where their roots would pierce his mould. Together with all the servants of the household, I was present at the interment, and the aforemen¬ tioned dwarf, who proved to be an excellent under¬ taker, placed the remains in their final resting-place. It was a sad scene, for the poor fellows realized that they had lost a good master, and a just friend. Servetus fell upon his knees and burying his face in his trembling hands gave himself up to violent grief, and no small degree of force was required to lead him away after the last vestige of the coffin was concealed by the falling clay. As soon as the will was published, I took formal possession of the estate, and as considerable time would be required before the necessary alterations could be made to prepare the mansion for the pur¬ poses specified in the will, I left Servetus in charge of it with instructions to conduct the place in the same manner as when his master was living. Just one year from that memorable night upon which I stepped so abruptly into the life of this strange man, I found myself seated again before a cheerful fire with the mysterious manuscript in my hand, about to break its seal, and read the secrets of the silent and unreturning past. I broke the seal, and unrolling the manuscript spread it out before me and gave myself to its peru¬ sal. The sensations with which it filled me ; the un¬ heard of and almost supernatural events which it DR. SENEX. 31 related, together with my admiration for the writer’s genius and immense erudition, and my horror at his inhumanity and perfect disregard for all human and moral relations, I leave to the reader to comprehend as he himself follows the narrative. For here I transcribe it just as it was written. \ t % THE NARRATIVE. PART FIRST. I AM aware that in writing the history of my life, a history which contains my secret thoughts, and the motives and passions which influenced me, I will incur the criticism of many who will seek to impeach my veracity, and mayhap my sanity. Others will question either the wisdom or the propriety of mak¬ ing public the events of a life, which may seem to be made up of vain ambitions, and of projects apparently impossible of realization. Furthermore the narrative will perhaps sorely test the credulity of not a few, because prudence and my at last awakened love for my fellow beings compel me to bury some of the secrets which curiosity will most crave to learn. Dogmatists, scientists, and skeptics will unite in their ridicule, and will denounce me vehemently as a visionary, a charlatan or a lunatic. This I know, yet I will feel amply repaid if I succeed by means of the moral involved in this narrative, in destroying vain and impious ambitions, which may possess others to tear aside the sphinxian curtain that envelops the unknown, and thereby attempt with finite hands to measure the attributes of the infinite. ( 32 ) 33 \ DR. SENEX. / Notwithstanding creeds and doctrines, man’s life is what he makes it, tempered more or less by envi¬ roning circumstances.^ Some lives, beginning under normal influences, end as they began, in mediocrity. Others, tinctured from the beginning with the “ di¬ vine afflatus,” struggle incessantly against the prison walls of the normal, irritated at their confinement and continually endeavoring to escape,—just as it has been with me. Happiness and contentment are the fruits of the former, disappointment and remorse, of the latter. The little band of pilgrims who landed one cold December day on the bleak coast of New England in the year of grace 1620 , was remarkable not only for the personal character of the individuals, but, especially because they represented opinions, relig¬ ious as well as political, that had made them the butt of ridicule, censure and persecution, for almost a hundred years. But they held so tenaciously to their opinions and doctrines, that they resolved to break all ties that bound them to the homes of their fathers and journey forth in quest of freedom and of religious liberty. Their landing at Plymouth was an epoch. It was the beginning of a new civilization. From them has sprung a nation that stands as a monument to their tribulations, to their vicissitudes, and to their sturdy antagonism to dogma and spiritual domination. But while standing as exponents of stalwart opposition to religious tyranny, it must not be for* 3 34 THE STRANGE STORY OF gotten that within their own circles they were more intolerant and tyrannical than the sects they so stren¬ uously combatted. They were rigorists of the most extreme type; oppression and repression had developed that strong self reliance, and progressive thrift, which has been the foundation upon which our institutions have grown and flourished, and which their descendants have fortunately inherited. Among that intrepid band of exiles were a few who perhaps could not be called strict Puritans. They were a class of political rather than religious exiles, and in contrast to the majority, had been recruited from a different social station. These were mostly men of rank and wealth, not strictly from the nobility, but closely akin to it. While not the extremists that the others were, still a common persecution had bound them closely together. Within this limited few were one Sebas¬ tian Senex, his wife Mary, and a son just entering his teens. That son was myself. I can well remember the wintry morning that a landing was made on the now famous rock. What anguish of spirit, what toils, and what tribulations were concentrated in that solemn “Amen” that swelled from the kneeling exiles, offering their prayers to the Almighty for having guided them safe through storms and billows to this long-looked-for haven! I shall not enter into a narrative of the countless trials, the privations, and the ever present danger to which we were subjected in our efforts to reclaim a DR. SENEX. 35 wilderness and establish our community—for every child does or, at least, should know that from pure patriotic pride. The first building erected, after suitable shelter was provided for all, was a church, or in their vernac¬ ular, a meeting-house. Here every morning and evening the entire community were accustomed to assemble and offer up thanks and prayers to the Most High for having preserved them from day to day. Gradually chaos was resolved into order, and from this house of prayer—which soon became the fount from which sprang edicts temporal as well as spirit¬ ual—a code of rules or laws, was promulgated for the regulation of all things private and public. This was the origin of the famous “ Blue Laws,” which, according to the prevalent ideas, contained all that was necessary and good for the government of men and communities. By means of these rigorous laws these enthusiasts believed that they could carry on more effectually their warfare against the “ Devil and his satellites.” Thus they sought by artificial rules and barriers to make the individual conform himself to the spirit of the Gospels, leaving no latitude for personal temperament or religious short-comings. Gradually the community became coerced into an individual, if I may so use the term ; for they acted, thought, prayed, loved, and hated as an individual; they were no longer an aggregate; but had been 36 THE STRANGE STORY OF compressed, hammered and driven into a spiritual and temporal unity. There was no minority, no factions, no parties, no segregations. From persecuted they became perse¬ cutors ; from oppressed, tyrants; from aggregates, a unity ; from polyads, a monad. There was no outbreak. If perchance any one had ideas inconsistent with the established order, fear compelled him to hold his tongue. Intellectual liberty had no existence. To think without the prescribed limits of belief was to com¬ mit a crime against God and man. Thus I was raised, environed by these influences and subjugated by these tenets and regulations. My father, as I have said before, was not a relig¬ ious exile ; his flight from England was not becaus.e he could not live in harmony with the Established church, nor were his religious ideas of such austere and rigid character as those of his comrades. But like a sensible man he realized that in order to live peacefully he would have to conform—at least out¬ wardly—with the customs and religious practices of the community. He was a scholar, but there was such a poverty in the colony of anything that savored of letters or philosophy, and the struggle for exist¬ ence was so incessant and bitter, that he had little time at his command to continue his favored studies. I had been well tutored in my childhood, and after our enforced pilgrimage, my father instructed me as best he could, considering the circumstances t)K. SEN EX. 3 ? and lack of requisite material. I was naturally of a studious turn of mind and the major part of my time was taken up in reading and re-reading the few books my father managed to bring with him. I was not in love either with my new companions or my surroundings, and I certainly was not adapted by nature to prove a successful integer in the work of reclaiming a wilderness. Instead of putting my shoulder to the wheel, and contributing my small share in aiding our elders in the herculean task of overcoming the difficulties which beset a pristine civilization, as other boys of my age were doing, I would wander away as far as prudence would allow, and give myself up to contemplation and observa¬ tion, in a boyish way, of the phenomena surround¬ ing me. To arise, eat, think, worship, and retire, all bv inex¬ orable laws, was galling to my innate independence, and to my love of personal freedom. Very early I began to rebel against the established order of things. I frequently disobeyed and in¬ fringed upon the regulations and codified customs, and in consequence I was looked upon as an irrever¬ ent and unruly member, who needed coercion. My transgressions provoked at first only shakes of the head and admonitions on the part of the worthy fathers; but finally a climax was reached when, for three consecutive Sundays, I had remained absent from the morning religious exercises, from no suffi¬ cient reason, to their way of thinking, but to mine * 38 THE STRANGE STORY OF a sufficiently good one. It was in the glad spring¬ time, and I could not resist my youthful impulses to throw off all restraint, go forth into the forests and fields, revel in the pleasures of a glorious spring morning, and drink in the intoxicating essence en¬ gendered by nature’s rejuvenation. What boy, what youth, does not feel the galling chains of restraint, when the kindly smile of a genial sun seems to beckon him forth to participate in all nature’s happines? Thus it was for allowing my youthful desires to dominate me that my father was finally notified by the censorious elders, that inasmuch as he had failed to correct and punish me for my perversity and truancy, they would take my case in hand them¬ selves, and apply a remedy. “ The community, dear brother, and its laws de¬ mand that an example shall be made, as a wholesome lesson to others who may be inclined to follow in the footsteps of your son,” they said. How well I remember the anxious look upon the face of my ever kind and indulgent parents when I returned late in the evening of the last of the afore¬ mentioned Sundays! My mother and he had just seated themselves for their frugal evening repast as I crossed the thresh¬ old. “My dear son,” began my father, “you have again forgotten your duties and my admonitions, that your frequent disregard of the laws and mandates in ref- DR. SENEX. 39 erence to keeping the Sabbath, and passing your time in prayer and attendance at the appointed place of worship, would bring down upon your head the censure, and, if persevered in, the punish¬ ment of the elders, and now it has come to pass that your untowardness has at last brought upon you what I have predicted. “ To-day a committee of the elders notified me that they will publicly reprimand and, if need be, pun¬ ish you on the morrow, immediately after morning worship. “ It grieves me much that a son of mine should thus be openly punished, and I would fain protect you and ward it off, if it were possible; but you know that aught I can say or do, will avail but little against the united voice of the community*” My poor mother embraced me, and wept at what she considered a harsh, but inevitable, misfortune. My father did not show his grief so openly, but took his hat and staff and went out to visit some of his more immediate neighbors, with the hope that he might enlist their sympathy, and through their aid evade the impending catastrophe. His early return evinced the fruitlessness of his mission, and sinking down in a chair, he said: 44 My son, I would that the brethren were as ready to pardon the faults and shortcomings of others, as was the great Teacher whom they so rigorously worship; but within the dreary sepulchre of their religious conscience, there seems to be no room for 40 THE STRANGE STORY OF charity, and although I have plead with them to spare you, for what I consider so slight an offence, they seem to think it a grievous one and refuse to interfere.” So it was with fear and trepidation, that I retired to my bed that night, wondering what would be the outcome of what seemed to me a crowning injus¬ tice. We were all astir before daybreak on the follow¬ ing morning, and we had hardly completed our morning repast, when there was a knock at the door, and upon my father’s “ Enter ye,” two of the reign¬ ing elders came in, and having greeted my parents, announced that they had come to conduct me to the meeting-house for trial, for my irreverence and non¬ conformity to the express laws of the community. My mother broke into tears, and plead with the guardians of the public conscience to forgive my past misdeeds, and said she would be responsible for my future conduct. They only shook their gray heads, and with the remark “ that it would not be for the weal of the community,” they led me away between them—my father following a few paces in the rear. It seemed to my excited fancy that every man, woman and child, in the settlement, lined the road¬ way to the church, to witness and glory in my dis¬ comfiture. But, if they expected to see any weakness or dis¬ play of fear on my part, their very presence and DR. SENEX. 41 evident curiosity was the stimulant required to enable me to carry myself in a fearless and careless man¬ ner. All the antagonism and obstinacy of the Anglo-Saxon, arose in my boyish heart, and I deter¬ mined that I would display a bold front. On entering the log building, I was conducted to a raised bench on the right side of the pulpit and left there alone, while the others seated themselves in their accustomed places. The house was crowded, for such an event as this was the spice their appetites craved. The prayers were unusually protracted, as if these long-faced and austere “ followers of the word ” were expiating beforehand whatever excesses their zeal might impel them to commit. I looked in vain, through the audience, to find one face on which liberality was sufficiently patent to enable me to detect an expression of sympathy. Whatever such feeling their hearts might originally have been capable of, their silent, cold and canting creed had covered with a curtain of ice. After the religious exercises were over, the elders conversed among themselves in whispers, and when they had finished, the presiding elder, who was at once both spiritual and temporal judge of the com¬ munity, ascended the pulpit, and after asking the benediction of the Most High on all those present or absent, proceeded to state to the assembly in a slow, monotonous and solemn tone of voice, “ That it had become the painful duty of the church militant 42 THE STRANGE STORY OF to take under its advisement, for trial and correction, the case of one of the younger members of the com¬ munity, who had been wilfully drifting away from the house and faith of the Redeemer; who has been setting at defiance the mandates and councils of his elders ; and who would, if not brought up with a sudden halt, prove a renegade to his religion, an evil example to others, and an irritating factor in the body politic.” To which harrangue there was the usual “Amea.” “ Therefore, brethren in Christ,” he continued, “ we, the elders, to whom ye have delegated your authority, have passed upon his delinquency, and find that he is culpable. But, before passing sen¬ tence, we would ask the culprit if he has aught to say, why sentence should not be pronounced upon him ” He turned to me, and said: “ Irreverent youth, if within thy conscience thou can’st think of aught to palliate or extenuate thy past misconduct, make known the same, openly and at once.” I was at that time about eighteen years of age, well developed physically and mentally for one of my years ; and while, as a matter of fact, I was somewhat of an idler, the hours so spent had been given up to the contemplation of nature, of the hu¬ man character as it was presented to me in our small society, and to the eager study of what few books I could obtain. The Bible, the one universal book Dll. SENEX. 43 in the settlement, engrossed the most of my time, and I was tolerably familiar with it. This mode of life had made me older than I really was, and as well equipped for controversy—if you will excuse my egotism—as the majority of the elders. As I sat there and listened to the above remarks, and learned that I was already found guilty without having had the opportunity to offer a defence, there sprang up within me a violent feeling of protest against the proceedings, and almost a hatred for the doctrines which had led to them. Aflame with anger and hatred, I arose, in response to his interrogatory, and, looking about the room, addressed myself to them in words and phrases not calculated to leave any ambiguity as to what my true sentiments were. “ My elders and brethren, I have been accused of having disregarded the spiritual mandates of the commonwealth ; of having irreverently neglected to attend divine worship on the prescribed times and days; that I have wickedly absented myself from religious meetings on the Sabbath, and that on that blessed day, instead of offering up my prayers at the Lord s appointed house, I have, under the malign influence of the Devil, given myself up to wanton and proscribed pleasure. It seems that I have been found guilty of all these charges without a hearing of the case. Now that I am asked if I have aught to say why punishment should not be meted out to me, this is my only palliation and my answer: If 44 THE STRANGE STORY OE communing with nature, breathing the free air un¬ restrained, exulting in my youth and assimilating the warmth of the glowing sun ; if roving about in the fields and lingering beneath the friendly shade, bringing myself in closer sympathy with nascent life ; if all this is wanton pleasure, I plead guilty to the charge. “ If I am asked whether I wickedly prefer so to wander off by myself, and enjoy the invigorating and intoxicating sunshine, to giving myself up within these walls to gloomy meditation, then I say that I prefer the green fields and shady forests to this gloomy, artificial, narrow prison which 3^011 are pleased to call the 4 Temple of the Lord.’ I loathe this structure, I loathe your canting creed, I loathe the unnatural regulations you seek to impose upon us as individuals and as a community. I have noth¬ ing to extenuate, nothing to regret—save the an¬ guish my public punishment may cause my parents. u I prize first my liberty, and next to that mv honesty of conviction ; if they are in conflict with your ordinances, punish me for them, but never hope for retraction or repentance. Do your worst! ” and, folding my arms, I assumed an attitude ot de¬ fiance and disdain. ♦ ^ To say that my words created a sensation, but half expresses it. At first their faces portraj^ed merely interested surprise, then amazement, and at the end horror and anger. For some moments they all sat spell-bound at my DR. SENEX. 45 audacity. Their feelings, however, soon took ex¬ pression, and in a few minutes, the quiet and solemn looking congregation was in a tumult. The elders quickly conversed together, with many a shake of the head and arms; after which one of them, a man of recognized rigor of belief, raised his staff as a signal for order. As soon as he had ob¬ tained it he said : 44 Brethren, this has been a most momentous open¬ ing for so bright a morning ! Ill in keeping with the glorious sunshine have been the seditious and pro¬ fane words of this benighted 'youth. Oh, what have we done, beloved followers of the Word, that in our midst should have sprung into existence a youth in whom the Devil hath gained such ascend¬ ency, that our ears should be assailed by the venom of unbelief, engendered by his presence ? This God fearing community must not and shall not tolerate so pernicious an element!—and we as sponsors and judges, do declare that the culprit shall be pilloried, and that at eventide of each day, he shall be pub¬ licly whipped, until he doth recant and crave for¬ giveness, and until the devil within him has been ex¬ orcised.” At the completion of this harangue there was the usual, and as I imagined, satisfied 44 Amen.” My father implored that his son might be spared, but to all his entreaties there was an ominous si¬ lence. Two burly custodians of the peace took me in 1 46 THE STRANGE STORY OF charge and conducted me to the scaffold on which the pillory was erected. The emotions that I experienced on that memor¬ able morning, I have lived over a thousand times since in my reveries : the excruciating anguish and overmastering shame of public punishment, were doubly intensified in my super-sensitive and proud nature , but I bore myself in a defiant manner, sus¬ tained as I was by the feelings of resentment and hostility aroused by the injustice of the whole pro¬ ceedings. It was a motley crowd that followed me to the scaffold, and among the mass of upturned faces, as I gazed down upon them after my head and wrists were placed within the apertures, I could not dis¬ cern one sympathetic face. After having satisfied their curiosity, the crowd finally dispersed, and I was left alone to my medita¬ tions. The day was intolerably long, and the only solace I had was from my anguish stricken parents, who did all they could to lighten my misfortune. Toward evening my jailers put in their appear¬ ance, to say that the whipping had been postponed until the following morning; and releasing me from my now almost unbearable position, they conducted me to a structure which answered the dual purpose of block-house and jail, where they confined me. During the night my father again importuned the elders for a mitigation of the sentence, imploring them to spare him, who had always been a good and DR. SENEX. 47 efficient member of the community, the disgrace of having his only son publicly whipped. He plead with them so earnestly, offering to guarantee that I would leave the settlement for good, that he finally carried his point; and the following morning I was released, after a long harangue from one of my judges, about the evil and godless ways I had fallen into. It was fully a fortnight before the long expected ship from England arrived with her load of kindred exiles, and my father arranged with the captain to allow me to return with him, by working out my passage. That was the saddest moment of my life when I bid my father and mother good-bye. How they clung to me, until the very last moment, and stood on the shore waving their hands until the melan¬ choly waste of water intervened between them and me! Our destination was Amsterdam. After a long and tedious voyage, we finally arrived at the City of Canals. Armed only with a letter to Dr. Fred¬ erick Heingardt, an old friend of my father, I landed, friendless, in a strange land. Not knowing anything of the language, I had some difficulty in making out my way ; but after many fruitless attempts and much wandering about, I finally found the place I wanted. It was an ordi¬ nary chemist s shop. I entered timidly, and asked a 48 THE STRANGE STORY OF youth, who seemed to be the only occupant, for Dr. Frederick Heingardt. His reply was a shake of the head and a response in Dutch, which, of course, I could not understand. All I could make out from the jargon that flowed from his lips was that the doctor was not there, but I could not understand whether he was merely not at home or no longer lived there. Somewhat discouraged I sauntered out, but re¬ mained in the vicinity until near night-fall; when, being hungry and tired, I resolved to make another at¬ tempt on the youthful Hollander, and pushing open the door again, I asked for the doctor and was greeted with the same answer as before. By this time I was so discouraged and worn out with hunger and fatigue that I sank down in a vacant chair, and gave myself up to feelings of lone¬ liness and despair. “ What if after all the doctor ho longer lives here and I can not find him, what shall I do ? ” I did not know another person in the place, and was practi¬ cally penniless. While thus ruminating upon my forlorn condition, the door opened, and a large heavily-bearded man entered, and looking at me in an inquiring way, made some remark to the boy, who thereupon gave me to understand that this was the man I sought. I arose, and saluting him, asked if he was Doctor Heingardt. Imagine my surprise, when in almost perfect En- DR. SENEX. 49 glish he answered me he was, and asked me what he could do for me. My only response was to hand him the letter. He broke the seal, and a look of surprise at first came upon his face, but this soon gave away to one of kindly interest. “Well, well,” he said, “this is indeed a pleas¬ ure ! ” and, grasping me by the hand, he continued : “ And is this the son of my old friend and classmate ? You are doubly welcome, I assure you. It has been many years since I have heard from your father, and it pleases me much to learn that he is still liv¬ ing and in good health. There is but one thing,” he continued, after a moment’s pause, “ that could have pleased me more, and that is a sight of your father himself; but it is enough, I suppose, for one day, to see his son. I loved your father, lad, and I was wont to look upon him as a brother; perhaps I will find his son equally dear to me.” Pulling me to him, he gave me a hug that might have been a love-squeeze from a Russian bear; then, as if something had occurred to him, he gazed at me fixedly a moment, and said : “You'look hungry and tired. Come with me,” and, opening a door, he led through a court into a part of the building which faced on another street. We entered a large reception-room, when he rang a bell which was responded to by a brawny Ethiopian, whom the doctor informed me he had picked up dur¬ ing his travels through Egypt. lie directed him to 4 50 THE STRANGE STORY OF serve dinner at once for two, and then, turning to me, said : 44 1 suppose your father has told you about me; and, therefore, you probably know that I live practi¬ cally alone, with but a few servants, and that I am considerable of a hermit in disposition. This house and shop have been my abode since I was born, for it belonged to my father before me. I love the old place, for it has contained within its walls all that I ever held dear on earth, and I am content to think that it will be my sepulchre. I have lived here alone since my parents’ death, and when I am gone I have no kin to whom to leave it.” After we had talked for some time, the servant announced dinner, and following the doctor, I was led to the dining-room, which to me was a welcome sight. We lingered over our wine, and the doctor lit his pipe. It did my heart good to see the evident satis¬ faction that beamed from his kindly face as he took long and copious draughts from his beloved meer¬ schaum. He asked time and again about my father and mother, about my life in America, and finally drew out of me the reason of my flight. I told him all, and as I proceeded with the story of my persecution and final shame, I could see the blood mount to his cheeks ; and when I had concluded, he lay down his pipe, and striking the table with his clenched fist, ejaculated; DR. SENEX. 51 “Imfamous! infamous! Is it possible that there can be found within a civilized community, such bigots—men, who, under the guise of Christianity, can be guilty of such narrow-minded cruelty? Your father did right in sending you to me. I suppose you have no plans for the future ; but make your¬ self easy on that score, your future shall be my care. I am rich, without kin or friends in whom I have sufficient interest to harbor beneath my roof, and if you think existence here with an old man like me will not be too tedious, you can call this home, and it will be my care to see that you are properly provided for.” Of course I was delighted with the idea, and the proposition was so kindly and so heartily extended, that I could not repress the tears which sprang un¬ bidden to my eyes. The doctor arose when he noticed it, and coming around to my side of the table, took my hand within his and said: “Tut, tut, boy, don’t do that! Your path in life hitherto has been rough enough to make tears come to the eyes of a man older than yourself, but if human help can avail you, rest assured it will be smooth enough in the future.” He resumed his place at the table, and proceeded to give me a more extended account of himself. While he was talking 1 had an excellent opportunity to study his features in detail. He was a veritable Teuton ; large of stature, with 52 THE STRANGE STORY OF great square shoulders that were a fit structure on which to place so massive and noble a head. His hair was tawny and plentifully sprinkled with grey ; but the chief feature about him which appealed to me was his beautiful and kindly blue eyes. It seemed to me that no one could look into their clear depths and not love the man. We sat there for some time, and finally adjourned to his library, immediately above. What a gem of a place it was ! I had never seen a great library, and a room given up to such a purpose was a matter of fiction with me, for Plymouth had nothing of the kind in those days. The doctor noticed my evident joy and enthu¬ siasm, and asked whether I was found of study. . When I told him how passionately I had longed for just such an opportunity as this, and how I had read over and over again all the books of which the colony could boast, he took me by the hand, drew me toward him, and said : “ My boy, you are fashioned after my own heart. It is easy to see that you have much of your schol¬ arly father’s tastes. We will no doubt be fast friends, for our inclinations in that respect are simi¬ lar ; and I have long desired to have some one in whom I could centre all the natural paternal feel¬ ings, which have become atrophied in me by long years of non-use. I have collected this library from every clime, and it contains some of the rarest books* that the earth holds. Some time, when I have an j ■ • * r>fc. SENEX. 53 opportunity, I will relate to you the history con¬ nected with some of these musty volumes. Their time-stained leaves contain secrets so strange and marvelous that your young head would whirl if you were suddenly confronted with them. This volume,” he continued, going to one of the cases and taking a peculiar looking book from the shelf, “ I treasure as I do my life. It is written in Arabic, and I re¬ ceived it from an old sheik, while on a journey through Arabia and Western Asia. “ The old fellow claimed to be a lineal descend¬ ant from Gebir, the great Arabian alchemist and philosopher, and insisted that this book had been written by his illustrious ancestor, had come down from father to son as an heirloom, and was looked upon as sort of talisman. u Being a physician, I was instrumental in saving the life of his favorite son, who was dying from a species of typhus, when I ran across their encampment. While in the sheik’s quarters, I found the old vol¬ ume ; and, being somewhat acquainted with Arabic, I became engrossed in it. Well, to make a long story short, the old sheik was so overjoyed at the re¬ covery of his son—whom he had given up as past saving—that he gave me choice of any chattel in his possession, and 1 lost no time in asking for the book. He did not like to part with it, but as he had made the offer, Arab-like, he would not go back on his word. Consequently, I am the possessor of a i 54 THE STRANGE STORY OE work for which every university in Europe has offered me fabulous sums.” He handed me the volume, which I opened with feelings of deep awe, for his story impressed me. Glancing through the work, I found that it was written on a strange kind of material and in queer oddly shaped characters, which of course were mean¬ ingless to me. I handed it back to the doctor, with the remark that it must, indeed, be a valuable book to have enchained his affection and interest so etfect- ivelv. «/ We sat there talking until bedtime. As the gong sounded the eleventh hour he led me in person to my room, which I found adjoined his, and with a hearty u Good-night ” he left me. I was soon ensconced between the clean white sheets, and almost immedi¬ ate^ lost in slumber. I have been narrating rather minutely up to this point the events of my early life, but I do so only to show the influences and circumstances that helped to shape my career, and thereby to account for ideas and ambitions which will probably appear, to the readers of this practical age, neither consistent with reason nor in harmony with modern ideas of ethics. On the following day the doctor initiated me into all the details of his abode and business, and mapped out for me what he considered the best plan for my future. I was to become his assistant and companion ; he would thoroughly educate me and make me his sue- mi. SENEX. 55 cessor, and all he asked of me in return was obedi¬ ence to his wishes and a promise that I would care for him in his old age. In fact, he adopted me, and I think the idea of having a son was a pleasing one to him, for he seemed very happy to have me near him. The result of it all was that I settled down to my studies, and became in a short time so accustomed to the existing order of things that it seemed as if I had been to the manner born. Life there was all I could wish, my appetite for study and knowledge was being satisfied, and the doctor was the prince of instructors. I learned the native tongue well enough in a short time to converse easily with him. The dead languages lie taught me, and by the time I had reached my majority 1 had become so profi¬ cient in them that he was loud in his praises of my progress. The doctor was in many respects a peculiar man. He had a perfect physique, and possessed a happy disposition. If he had ever suffered much, or had gone through any great misfortune, it had left no gloomy imprint oh his sunny temperament. He was eminently an optimist, and I could not altogether account for his lonely and solitary life, and his im¬ mense interest in recondite and occult studies. But as I grew to know him better I recognized the fact that he had, in a manner, a dual nature. His light-heartedness and joviality were but the result of 56 THE STRANGE STORY OP the effervescence of his immense physical vitality, which enabled him, under the guidance of his indom¬ itable will, to throw off the effects which his stud¬ ies and his hermit-like life had engendered. I lived with him for years before I was admitted within the circle of his inner life. I suppose he was waiting until he considered that I had acquired knowl¬ edge enough, and had developed my mind sufficiently to be able to comprehend him and his ideas. Grad¬ ually he began to unbosom himself, and to instil in my mind ideas and thoughts about the real causes in nature, their effects as learned empirically, and the uses to which they might be directed. During the first years I lived with him I frequently heard from my parents, and kept them informed as to my condition and progress. I contemplated visit¬ ing them in the near future; but before my arrange¬ ments could be consummated, I was shocked by the tidings that they had both died of a malignant typhus—and so it was that “ The paths of by and by led to the house of never.” .... # * * * * * One evening the doctor was seated in his library, poring over a curious old volume, to which he had of late been devoting a great deal of his time, and which seemed to occupy his thoughts to the exclu¬ sion of all other duties. Whenever he was thus engrossed, I felt that he preferred to be alone, and had always betaken myself to my own quarters ; but t)ft. SENEX. 57 on this particular occasion I changed my tactics, and remained in the room. Taking a book from the # rack, I likewise settled myself for the evening. He was so deeply engrossed that lie did not seem to notice my presence. Finally he closed his book with a slam, and, leaning back in his chair, began talking to himself. I was seated back of him, so that he did not see me. “ Yes, it is true, he reasons rightly ; somewhere in Nature’s labratory it must exist, but I doubt the finding of it. Yes, it must be so, for has not the poison its antidote, and everything within the sphere of entity its antitype? Why then should the line be drawn here? Shall this be the exception to the uni¬ versal law? No ! no ! And yet I have followed his formula, and the precipitate is as he declares ; but the vital property is lacking, the ecstacy produced is not enduring, only evanescent. Now, how is this ? Pa¬ tience, patience, but alas! my stock of that is well- nigh consumed. Learning and industry avail not to coax from Nature her choicest secrets. But is it to be ever thus? No, no, ten thousand times no ! For if within the dark depths of its profundity there exists this spirit of perpetuality, it must and shall be brought to light, to the everlasting joy of human¬ kind ! ” “ What say the sages of the past ? Are Egypt, Chaldea, Greece and Arabia silent? ” I said, break¬ ing in on his reverie. He straightened up with a start at my words, and 58 THE STRANGE STORY OE turning toward me, gazed at me with such a look of astonishment that I was for a moment impressed with the feeling that my interruption was anything but pleasant to him. “You here? Why, I thought you had retired long ago.” “ Pardon me, but I have long desired to speak to you on a subject, which, from the fact that you your¬ self have never broached it, I have not felt free mv- self to mention. I have been an inmate of your home for almost ten years, and your kindness has rendered me so deeply in your debt, that I am afraid I shall never be able to pay the obligation. I have learned so thoroughly to revere and love you, that I am unwilling that you should admit me to your love and consideration, and yet close to me the chamber of your inner thoughts and aspirations. Now, Doc¬ tor, I beseech you to take me into closer communion with yourself. Make me your confidant, and the sharer of your hopes and ambitions.” His face changed perceptibly, and the look of as¬ tonishment and annoyance gave way to one of benignity and love. “ My boy, do you know that it will avail you little to be made the partner in thought and deed of one whose hair has commenced to whiten beneath years of patient study, and never-ending disappointment; of one who from childhood has been practically his own confidant and companion, of one in whom the seeds of filial affection have never germinated? I 59 bn. senex. hesitate to introduce you to that inner knowledge, that will consume your attention and desires to the exclusion of all worldly and humane sentiments. I warn you that if you pass within the inner threshold, that you will forever be a slave to its demands. The knowledge you seek is not of the nature you may imagine from your present studies in the natural laws of physics and economics. It has to do with investigations into the hidden and occult forces of phenomena which your present knowledge neither embraces nor has any conception of. When once as a neophyte you have been ushered into the sacred dwelling of true knowledge, all extraneous things will cease to have for you anything of interest. The dreams of your boyhood, the fountain of your emo¬ tions and affections, will be poisoned and vitiated by the unceasing demands of this new cult. You will look upon your fellows with feelings not of sympathy and alfection. rhey will occupy a place in your ex¬ istence suggested merely by their utility. You will appear to them as- an egotistic and selfish being, in whom the natural sentiments of the race have been obliterated. Are you willing to enter this sphere, to undertake the responsibility that such a step will necessitate ? ” “ Gladly, my dear Doctor, if such a step will open to me the book of true knowledge which I have longed for in my enthusiasm. It will be the culmination of my highest aspirations, and I will take it, come what may.” 60 THE STRANGE STORY OF “ Very well, but I would that I could deter you. Follow me! Your initiation shall not long be de¬ ferred.” Oh, if that dire day could only be recalled, the rash step retraced, and the hateful knowledge which now is mine eschewed ! How many times have I wished to be one of the world, to live like other men, con¬ tent with that which is ordinarily vouchsafed, and to die at man’s full four score years and ten ! But the die was cast, and with eagerness I fol¬ lowed him. He led the way through the long hall until he came to a stairway which I supposed led to the garret above. Upon reaching the landing we found a closed door. The doctor opened it, and taking me by the hand, led me through a long pas¬ sage, until we were brought to a halt before another door. This the doctor also unlocked, and we en¬ tered a room dimly lighted by the rays of the moon, which penetrated through a window placed so high in the wall that its sill was a man’s full height from the floor. The odor of chemicals soon convinced me that I was in a laboratory ; but as the doctor had one below, connected with his shop, I was sur¬ prised to find that he had another and a secret one. He lighted a taper, and seating himself by the side of a work-table, motioned me to a seat, and after some moments of silence, said: “ Most men live a double life; that is, they occupy a dual position. The one they lead with reference to others, and the other is the inner life of DR. SENEX. 61 which they alone are cognizant. I belong to this class; and while I am known as Doctor Heingardt, the physician and apothecaiy, I am more than that— I am an alchemist. “The peculiar prejudices of the times, the feeling of distrust with which the learned look upon any¬ one in quest of the philosopher’s stone, and above all, the position to which the science has been de¬ graded by the numberless charlatans and quacks who subsist upon the credulous ignorance of the people, has deterred, me from making it known that I am an enthusiastic and indefatigable searcher for the Uni¬ versal Alcahest. “ My early life was devoted to the study of natu¬ ral philosophy and medicine. Possessed of large means which I inherited from my father, I was enabled to gratify my desire for research into the various phenomena presented in my chosen profes¬ sion. “ My laboratory was fitted with all the appliances for experiments which money could purchase, and for years I was content to confine myself to the legit imate sphere of the chemist; but my health finally broke down under the close and constant study, and I resolved to take an extended trip through the Con¬ tinent and into the Orient. While in Italy I fell in with a philosopher of renown, whom I found to be thoroughly impregnated with the doctrines of Para¬ celsus and Cornelius Agrippa. He endeavored to per¬ suade me of the existence of the philosopher’s stone, 62 THE STRANGE STORY OF and hinted, on various occasions, that he himself had been able to transmute base metals. “ Naturally my curiosity was aroused, and although I had always looked upon this sect of philosophers as visionaries, I implored him to teach me the secret. This he promised to do, but said the necessary ingre¬ dients entering into the process were very costly and that he himself had exhausted his funds. u I immediately furnished him with the money he required and we set about to perform the experi¬ ment. For weeks we lingered over the crucible and retort, anxiously expecting with each succeeding day, to see the realization of our fondest hopes, but alas time only brought successive disappointments. “ My instructor finally admitted that the formula with which he before had accomplished the result, seemed now to have become inadequate, and we were compelled much against our will to abandon our experiments. We studied the works of Para¬ celsus and Agrippa assiduously and followed their formulae and recipes, but without satisfactory re¬ sults. “ While sojourning with my venerable friend, I accidentally run across a Latin translation of one of the works of Gebir the Arabian, by an old monk who had been proselyting among the Arabs. This work so interested me that I made up my mind to go to Arabia, and glean from the fount of their se¬ cret philosophy, the knowledge, which I so greatly craved. DR. SENEX. 63 “ I therefore set out for the land, upon which we Christians are wont to look as barbarous and unen¬ lightened, but which in fact is the cradle in which all true science was rocked. “ My travels and life among the Semitics would make a book of no little interest, but it will be suffi¬ cient for the present to say that I finally discovered the old sheik who seemed to be initiated into the mysteries and lore of the wise men of his race, and of whom I have spoken before. “ The coming into possession of that curious vol¬ ume proved to be the turning point in my career. I dwelt among these people long enough to learn their language, and the study of this one volume con¬ vinced me of the futility of ever hoping to be able to discover the transmuting stone. However, I gained from it other ideas, less sordid and far more elevating. The whole work breathed the doctrine of unlimited existence, and, if tradition could be relied upon, Gebir himself had lived so long that he finally died because he had not the desire to live longer. “ I purged myself of the ideas absorbed from my Italian triend and henceforth resolved to confine myself to the more elevating study of discovering a universal panacea for human ills, and that potent essence by whose aid man can close the gates of destiny and declare that time for him has no limita¬ tion. Being unable to gain any further definite knowh 64 THE STRANGE STORY OF »•« edge among the Arabians as to the formative ele¬ ments of this potent essence, I resolved to return to my native place, and give my entire time and en¬ deavors to discover this life giving elixir. “ And here I have labored, studied and experi¬ mented to accomplish this grand result, but although I ^have discovered new and wonderful compounds and concoctions which mitigate some of the most stubborn of diseases, I have as yet been unable to produce that vivifying substance which is the basis of life. But I am still of the opinion that success will crown my efforts, and although I have suffered countless disappointments, my patience is by no means exhausted, for I am as firmly convinced of the existence, somewhere in nature’s workshop, of this powerful principle as I am of my own. “ You no doubt wonder at my keeping this work secret, and especially from you, who have been so long one of my family. The reason is this: I did not want the world to know of my work unless I should solve the problem, and as to yourself, I preferred to let you continue your studies in the sciences rather than acquaint you with that which would enchain your thoughts to the exclusion of all else, and which by reason of the immensity of its sphere and the many strange, mystic and al¬ most unhallowed conditions it imposes, would either render you a slave to its demands or a charlatan to deceive and dupe others. These have been my reasons, but since you now solicit this knowledge in i DR. SENEX. 65 all sincerity, I do not feel that I am wholly respon¬ sible if it should prove to be an element of dis¬ quietude rather than of lasting happiness.” “ I will abide the result, dear Doctor, whether it shall be for joy or sorrow,” I answered. “ Then let it be as you desire. What knowledge I possess, knowledge that has taken me years to gather, I will give you the benefit of. But first let me acquaint you with my theory. “Transition is the law of nature. Progressive change enters into all being, whether organic or inorganic. “ Transition is mutation ; mutation is the result of energy, and energy is superinduced by motion which is passive at the beginning, accelerates by pro¬ gression and finally resumes its quiescent state by either expansion or retardation. “ Now this is essentially the condition of life. From the cradle to the grave we have merely the different phases of acceleration and diminution. “ During the period of growth there is acceleration of a high degree and consequently a large consump¬ tion of vital force ; but this being replenished, there is no positive diminution. After that period the supply decreasing, the system is thrown back upon itself, feeds, as it were, upon itself, thereby produc¬ ing diminution which grows greater and greater un¬ til finally there is absolute quiescence which is death. “Now if there can be found some agent which 5 66 THE STRANGE STORY OF will compensate for the consumption, replenish the tissues and hold in abeyance further encroachments, then life can be indefinitely prolonged. 44 The desire for longevity is innate, and death from its very nature is repugnant to all. u We spring into existence and whence we came is as unknowable as to whither we tend ; but the fact of being, and the consequent enjoyment of existence, have from time immemorial roused in man the desire to increase the span between the two eternities. 44 Now just what this principle is and the means whereby to control it at will, are the important questions. I will not enter into the countless experiments nor relate the various results I have produced, but I will explain at once the means I am now using and how I expect to arrive at the desired end. 44 Each and every sect from the Hermetics to the initiated of the present day, have sought to reach the result, either by what they term rejuvenation or by arrestation. 44 By the former method they seek to induct within the human body some nostrum which will immedi¬ ately restore the tissues and fluids to their youthful condition, while by the latter they endeavor merely by some means to arrest consumption and waste and to maintain the system in statu quo. 44 Now we have no reasonable grounds to believe that either method ever has been successful, not- DK. SENEX. 67 withstanding the assertions to the contrary of the Rosicrucians and many others. “ In my opinion the fault lies in the fact that they have never realized that both methods must amal¬ gamate before success can be achieved; there must be both rejuvenation and arrestation, and it is by the union of the two methods that I expect to solve the problem. “I have formulated various plans and methods to this end, but all have proven futile from some un¬ timely accident or unforeseen circumstance. “ My disappointments have been numberless, but in spite of all obstacles I believe that I have at last discovered the formula which has evaded the learned % for so many years, and which will enable man to arrest the fate which cuts the threads of destiny.” I gave breathless attention to his words, for his manner and the enthusiastic kindling of the eye con¬ firmed me in the belief that he was sincere. His statements awakened in me all sorts of ideal¬ istic fancies in regard to the future possibilities of the human race ; for the germ of Hermetic philosophy had been long hybernating in my mind and needed but this breath to quicken it into robust life. Many a night I had lain awake and speculated about the phenomena of life, from what we emanate and what is to be the end. Whether there is housed within us an immortal essence, which at death is set free that it may enter again into the atmosphere of its emanation, or whether the narrow span between the 68 THE STRANGE STORY OF cradle and the grave is the beginning and the end of being. How my opinions would fluctuate from one view to the other as sentiment or reason would gain the ascendant in my thoughts ! I was young, strong and healthy, and life was sweet to me. It always seemed a fearful thing to think of a time when I would exist no more, and it was with rebellious feelings against the natural order of things that I was brought face to face with man’s utter impotence and want of control over his own being. It seemed that man is, after all, merely a tenant by courtesy of this tenement of clay. It can therefore be readily imagined what a thrill of interested expectation, the words of my sage benefactor aroused in me. “I would fain introduce you into the knowledge of my discovery to-night,” continued the doctor, “ but there is a matter of detail that I have not quite perfected. To-morrow however at this hour I hope to be able to have all things arranged for the cru¬ cial test, and then you will have the pleasure, of wit¬ nessing with me the realization of long years of research and unceasing endeavor. To-morrow we will snatch from nature her most precious secret.” Without speaking further he led the way down to the library and then bade me good-night. I scarcely closed my eyes in sleep before morning. The vision of this almost superhuman power con¬ stantly hovered before me, and I was already plan¬ ning the many and wonderful deeds I would per- DR. SENEX. 69 form to astonish the skeptical. What fancies of wealth and power possessed me, and how I imagined myself sought after by rich and poor, by monarch and bondsman, in their eager endeavors to escape the relentless grasp of the grim destroyer ! The following night at the appointed time I as¬ cended to the laboratory and, finding the door closed, gently knocked. The kindly voice of the doctor bade me enter. I found him bending over the fur¬ nace, intently scrutinizing some dark blue liquid which was boiling in the caldron. The only light in the room came from the furnace, and it cast over surrounding objects such a ghastly hue, that I stopped short, struck with the mystic ensemble of the scene. Suddenly dense fumes began to arise. I noticed that the bluish color was rapidly changing to a beau¬ tiful scarlet, at the same time' giving off a phos¬ phorescent glow of such intensity that it rendered the features of the doctor who was leaning over it luminous even through the fumes. The effect was to give him such a supernatural appearance that in¬ advertently I grasped him by the arm and drew him back. He merely smiled at my interference and resumed his position, but after a few minutes I noticed another change in the boiling mass, for the scarlet slowly faded into a delicate pink, the fumes ceasing altogether. Without a word of warning he seized the caldron and plunged it with the liquid it con- 70 THE STRANGE STORY OF tainecl into a tank of cold water. The sizzling pro¬ duced by the contact of the superheated vessel with the water, had hardly ceased when I was surprised to see that the liquid had almost instantaneously solidified. The doctor with a triumphant shout seized a pair of grippers and raising the caldron upon the table, turned the vessel over so that its contents dropped out, and then turning to me, his face all aglow with happiness, he said: “ At last I have accomplished it. This same pink solid is the substance for which I would have sold body and soul to possess. This solid, which you have seen transformed from a liquid to its present condition, is the Mecca of our hopes. Hitherto I have sought it in vain, but every experi¬ ment failed. You perhaps noticed the change in the colors: I have frequently got as far with it as the scarlet, but never before have I been able to produce the pink. This is the substance that the master mind of Gebir alone produced, and the secret of which, although vaguely hinted at in his works, perished with him. There yet remains one more step to bring it to the condition necessary for use. Now attend me closely. “ This substance, although now perfectly harmless, disintegrates upon being subjected to a moderate heat and is reduced into fine powder, which upon being exposed to the air, undergoes a chemical change throwing off fumes as you noticed before, but of entirely different properties. These fumes DR. SENEX. 71 have the effect of benumbing, or rather rendering all vital movement in organic being entirely quies¬ cent. If inhaled long enough they will produce death, by a stagnation of all the functions. The residue is of a highly explosive character. “ I am convinced that this residue was never util¬ ized by the Arabian, from the fact that he only mentions it, by way of caution as to its explosive nature. But the former he did use, as it is claimed to arrest all further waste or decay in the system. “ Now if my theory is correct, complete arresta- tion of all functional action can be produced by the inhalation of the fumes, which is one step in the grand experiment for longevity. “ While in Arabia I learned that the early Ara¬ bian surgeons and alchemists maintained that, the blood, instead of being stagnant was constantly flowing through the veins and arteries, backward and forward like the tide of the sea, and was kept constantly in motion by the action of the heart valve, which is in effect a mechanical pump. “But perchance you are familiar with the exper-' iments of the English Harvey, who has just demon¬ strated to Christendom what was old in Arabia two centuries ago. “Now I propose first, to inject small quantities of this compound into one of the large arteries and gradually increase the amount injected, until the blood in its course is entirely charged. “ I will then produce partial asphyxia by the in- • 1 72 THE STRANGE STORY OF halation of the fumes, which will arrest all func¬ tional and vital action. It will next be necessary to restore this suddenly and by starting a sudden flow of blood to produce a chemical change on the medic¬ ament dissolved in it and to cause a species of minute concussions—of course, not strictly speaking concussions, but substantially the same in an infini¬ tesimal degree.” He now placed the compound which was already beginning to give off fumes from the effect of the heated air, on a square plate, and supplying himself and me with a sponge saturated with some liquid, which he assured me would neutralize the effects of the fumes, strapped them to our nostrils, saying, “We have had the theory, now for the experiment.” He took from one of the multitude of drawers a small steel instrument, with a hallow stem and a very fine point, to which was attached a membrane sack about the size of an English walnut. He then bared his arm, and, producing a lance, made a small incision. I saw that he intended with no more ado, to per¬ form the experiment on himself, and although I had faith in his ability and his theory, I was greatly alarmed for fear the experiment might prove a fail¬ ure, and result disastrously to him ; so I said: “ Doctor, don’t you think it rather dangerous to per¬ form this experiment on yourself, when the effect of this unknown substance upon you is, after all, a matter of conjecture ? I think your theory reasonable, but DR. SENEX. 73 it might fail and its effects upon you may be delete¬ rious in the extreme ; why not try it on some animal first, for instance on a dog? ” “Ah, my young friend, you need have no fear; this is only one among the many experiments I have performed upon myself. The action of this drug upon a dumb brute, could only be judged by the visible effects. The brute could not relate his sen* sations, and what assurance could I have that the symtoms of the two would be identical? We know that some drugs affect man and beast diversely. “ Man is the being to be benefited, let man bear the trial.” Seeing that it would be useless to try to deter him, I held my peace. He carefully filled the sack with the powder and then applying the sharp end of the tube to the in¬ cision, pressed softly, thereby injecting the sub¬ stance into the artery. This he kept up, resting from time to time until the sack was two-thirds emptied, when he suddenly lay the instrument on the table and sank into a chair, his face becoming as white as a sheet. I was greatly alarmed and snatching up a glass of water, and held it to his lips, but lie pushed me away, and after a few efforts motioned me to take the in¬ strument and inject the rest into his arm. I thought it an insane idea, and told him so; but he insisted, and I did as he bade me. The effect 74 THE STRANGE STORY OF was quickly visible, for he rallied, and in a few minutes was able to stand up. “ I anticipated this,” he said, “ for I know that some drugs produce a partial paralysis in small doses, but in large ones merely nauseate and lose their effect. So it is with this. The fact that my blood was but partly charged, produced the effect you noticed, while the surcharging immediately re¬ lieved me. “ But we must lose no time, and I will require your aid for the rest of the experiment. In fact the burden of the operation will be on you. “ Now closely attend to my instructions. “After I have lain down on yonder couch, place the solid in this vessel and expose it for a few min¬ utes to the heat of the furnace, until the dense fumes you saw before, arise; hold this under my nose and keep it there until I appear unconscious; carefully keep track of my pulse until the action is very feeble, then remove the fumes, and let me re¬ main in that condition for full an hour, and in the meantime, place that stone which is quite hot, to my feet and keep it there. “ At the end of one hour take this vial and pour the liquid down my throat and rub vigorously my chest immediately over my heart. “ Now, carefully follow my instructions, for upon the exact fulfilment thereof depends the success of this experiment amd mayhap my life.” It seemed to me the doctor was placing a good DR. SENEX. 75 deal of responsibility upon me, and I demurred strongly to assuming it. I told him that he had better call in some older man 'than myself v some one of more experience. He insisted upon my complying with his request, and said “ he would consider me ungrateful and lacking courage, if I refused.” Thereupon I followed his instructions, placed the vessel, from which the fumes were rising in dense fumes to his nostrils, and held them there until he was unconscious, and his pulse hardly discernible. For a full hour I let him remain, with the hot stone at his feet. As the last grain of sand fell in the glass, I seized the vial and lowering his head let the liquid run slowly down his throat. Then nervously tearing aside his shirt I began to rub his chest violently, I myself almost ready to fall down with suspense and anxiety. In a few minutes I thought I felt a slight throb, then another, gradually increasing in intensity. Then followed twitching of the muscles, and a spasmodic jerking of the limbs, succeeded by a flow of blood from the nostrils. I was beginning to think that all was accom¬ plished and that in a few minutes he would become conscious, the more so as he began to groan and opened his eyes. But in the twinkling of an eye there came over him a change so horrible that I was transfixed with 76 THE STRANGE STORY OF terror, for with one gigantic'effort he raised himself to a sitting posture, then fell over on the floor, the blood flowing in streams from his mouth and ears, and even exuding through the pores of the skin. I rushed to his side and tried to raise him, and had partly succeeded, when with a terrible cry he straightened himself out and fell flat on the floor, dead. I was paralyzed with fear, for the horrible sight he presented, with blood oozing from every pore and the skin actually cracking into an almost infinite number of seams, drove me almost frantic. Unable to endure the sight longer, I rushed out of the room down the stairs and never stopped until I reached the street. I ran rapidly up the street not knowing where I was going, nor caring, my only desire being to get away as far as possible from the catastrophe I had just witnessed. I know not how long 1 wandered about, but it must have been hours, for it was almost daylight when I found myself before the house of a physician whom I had known for some time, and who had been very kind to me on divers occasions. I reflected a few minutes, then made up my mind to call him to my aid, so lifting the knocker I let it fall with a bang and was rewarded in a few minutes by having the door opened by the doctor himself, who stared at me as if he thought I was crazy. Leading me into his study, he said, u My God, what is the matter? ” It did not take me long to tell him DE. SENEX. 77 what had happened, and I implored him to sum¬ mon aid and look after the corpse. He gazed at me searchingly a few minutes and then said : “ Do you mean to say that you assisted him in such an undertaking? Why, the man was mad; his father before him died a maniac.” This was the culminating point, the final straw, and with the cry, “ And have I been aiding a luna¬ tic to his destruction ? ” I fell over in a swoon. When I gained consciousness I found myself in the house of my physician friend, who told me that I had been unconscious so long that they had almost despaired of my ever regaining my senses. It seems that the events just narrated, and the ter¬ rible experience that I passed through, had pro¬ duced such a shock, both physical and mental, that my nervous system gave away completely, and it was only by the most drastic measures that I was rallied. In the meantime the unfortunate man was buried, and when I had sufficiently recovered, I learned that in the family of my benefactor there had al¬ ways been the taint of a peculiar hereditary insan¬ ity, the symptoms of which rarely manifested them¬ selves, but which usually culminated in some hallu¬ cination fraught with fatal results. It was hard for me to believe that so learned and seemingly rational a man could have been so afflicted, and the malady have escaped my attention, when I had been so intimately associated with him. My great sorrow was, that I had abetted him in 78 THE STRANGE STORY OF his undertaking. But who at my age, possessed of my enthusiastic desire for occult knowledge, would have been able to withstand the temptation, of giv¬ ing to u x ” its true value in the hitherto unsolved problem of life? I venture to say that no one of my temperament and zeal for knowledge would have acted otherwise. Being the doctor’s legally adopted son, I inherited his entire estate, which was of such magnitude as to give me an income sufficient to gratify almost any wish that could be satisfied by means of money. Unable to regain my composure of mind, sur¬ rounded as I was by everything which tended to recall to mind the horrors of that awful night, I ceased to make Amsterdam my home, and from that time on became a wanderer on the face of the earth. f PART SECOND. Alexandria, wondrous city, monument to the iron warrior who founded it, and who proclaimed it the Eternal City, the centre to which all men and nations must tend, and whence all things must ema¬ nate ! Hither it was that my wandering footsteps led me, wearied with the dust of never ending travel. Here, within the shadow of past greatness, I took up my abode, content for a time at least, to breathe the air freighted with that indescribable something, which stimulates those who inhale it, to renewed exertion to find the means whereby man may the longer live. I had traveled everywhere ; from the frozen coun¬ tries of the frigid north, to those of the far Antipo¬ des. I had rested beneath the shade of olive and mulberry groves, sheltered from the burning sun of Castile. I had sunk down, wearied and depressed, beside solitary springs in the burning sands of the vast Sahara, and had profaned with my infidel feet i the sacred mosques in the heart of Arabia. And within the shadows of the lofty Himalayas, I had imbibed philosophy at the fount from which it sprang. But nowhere was I so content to rest and dream, as here, within the walls of great, glorious, but fallen, Alexandria. ( 79 ) 80 THE STRANGE STORY OF What memories crowded upon me as I lingered by some stately ruin, which perhaps had been the abode of the haughty race of the Ptolemies! A broken column, often suggested the grandeur which it once possessed. Who can tell, but the great Hipparcus had leaned against it. Or perhaps Appolonioas Pergaeus. Or, it may be the site where once stood the abode of the learned and fair Hypatia,—the greatest of the Platonists.! .... I had been domiciled in the city for perhaps half a year, and had investigated and scrutinized every¬ thing of interest, and in my peregrinations, I had frequently met a very old and peculiar looking man, who irresistibly attracted attention. He was always to be seen at the same hour walk¬ ing up and down in front of what once had been a large and magnificent structure. His peculiar ap¬ pearance, coupled with the fact that he was always to be seen at exactly the same place and at the same hour, very early aroused my curiosity. One day in passing I saluted him, but he did not in any way acknowledge my greeting and I felt that I at least had discovered one thing about him, that he had outlived his knowledge of politeness. I could not however overcome my feeling of curi¬ osity for he seemed essentially a relic of the past, and I resolved to forget my former rebuff, and again to try to penetrate his reserve. In response to an interrogatory addressed to my DR. SENEX. 81 loquacious host, I learned that the old man was Ar- tixus the librarian, that he claimed to be a lineal descendant of the custodian of the great library founded by Philadelphus, and that to him had de¬ scended from father to son, what remnant there was left of that stupendous collection, which by the com¬ bined influence of war, bigotry and ignorance, had been almost swept from existence. This brief account of the strange old fellow only heightened my curiosity and interest in him. But he seemed oblivious of every person and thing: to any salutation or inquiry, he paid not the least attention. / One day, while wandering on the esplanade facing the bay, I was surprised to see the strange old man leaning on the stone balustrade—for it was not his custom to wander so far from his abode—watching the movements of a fisherman engaged in rolling up his net, while at his feet lay a basket well filled with the result of his days’ labor. ~ The librarian looked as if he might have been a century old. I was well advanced in years myself, but I looked youthful compared with him. I remained there for qtfite a little time, hoping that an opportunity would present itself, to enable me to engage him in conversation. My patience was finally rewarded, for suddenly, to my surprise, he turned and, approaching me, said: “ What would’st thou of me ? ” 6 82 THE STRANGE STORY OF “ Most worthy sir,” I answered, 44 pardon my evi¬ dent curiosity and my repeated attempts to intrude upon your notice. No idle curiosity has prompted me, only a feeling of reverence for your age, and the fact that you alone of all that now live within these walls, seem to be a fitting representative of the departed greatness of this fallen city. “ I am myself an old man, and have wandered for many years over the face of the earth, only to settle down beside these crumbling monuments too wearied to go further. 44 The sight of you has raised in me an insatiable desire to know you better; that respected sir, is my apology.” He surveyed me critically from beneath his shaggy brows, and his only answer was: 44 How can I serve thee ? ” “ By receiving me as a friend,” I answered. 44 Dost thou know, what thou asketh ? Dost thou know, that Artixus hath had no friend for many years ? I belong not to this age, but to the past. 44 Dost thou desire to consort with me, whose every thought is given up to the contemplation of the deeds and works of by-gone ages, and whose greatest desire is to forget the present ?” “ Most venerable sir,” I said, 44 ’tis just for such reasons that I crave your friendship.” “ But thou art a stranger and an alien, and yet thou askest from me that, which others grown up almost under my own eye, have sought in vain.” DB. SENEX. 88 “Well, thy candor pleasetli me, and if f mistake not, thou art a scholar, and a philosopher. “ To-morrow, at noon I shall be pleased to have thee break bread with me ; thou knoweth the place. Adieu,” and turning he left me. Punctually at noon, on the following day, I pre¬ sented myself at the pile of old ruins, in which this strange man lived, and I was met by him in person. He led me through the ruins of various passage¬ ways and halls, and finally ushered me into an open court, which, alone, of all of the ancient abodes that I had seen, seemed to be ifi a fair state of preserva¬ tion. The floor was tiled with curious and antique Egyptian mosaics, and in the centre, screened from the sun by an immense reed awning, was a table covered with delicious tropical fruits. At each end stood odd-shaped chairs,^of Egyptian workmanship. We were waited upon by a gigantic Abyssinian slave, the only attendant the old man had—he served in the various capacities of servant and com¬ panion. .We supped in silence, and it was not until the re¬ past was finished that my companion deigned to speak. 44 My dear sir, thou wilt pardon the inquiry, but inasmuch as thou art my guest, thou perhaps wilt be kind enough to tell me who thou art and whence thou art come.” I told him all that I thought it necessary for him 84 THE STKANGE STOBY OP to know, and in return asked him concerning his life, mentioning the rumors I had heard respecting him. He smiled, and, shaking his head, said : “Is that all they told thee about me £ “ Did they not also tell thee I am a hermit, an as¬ trologer, nay even a necromancer ? “ If not, then thy informants must have been more charitable than is their wont. “ The simple-minded people hereabouts are accus¬ tomed to attribute to me abilities I do not possess, and I am surprised that thou hast heard me spoken of only as Artixus, the librarian. “ True, I am a librarian, perhaps you will ask of what! Where is the library or museum? My an¬ swer is, these ruins constitute my museum, and they also hold the library. “ I am a direct descendant of the great librarian whom Philadelphus appointed, as the most learned man of his day, to take charge of and catalogue that stupendous collection of manuscripts which the great¬ est of the Ptolemies gathered together and which his immediate successor added to and enlarged. “ By royal decree, the charge of that library was entrusted to the descendants, in the direct male line of my illustrious ancestor, and for almost two thousand years the same has been transmitted as de¬ creed. “ I will be the last custodian, because with me ends the line ; and with me will disappear the last DE. SENEX. 85 trace of what once was the most comprehensive and altogether most marvelous collection of letters ever gathered by man. u What once constituted a library of over seven hundred thousand volumes, now does not contain as many hundred, and with me will perish the last ves¬ tige. “ Within these very ruins are stowed the rem¬ nants of that vast institution, but I alone know their resting-place. “ What would the savants and antiquarians not give for these priceless treasures, could they but rob some of the silent manuscripts of their treasured secrets ? “ But it will never be. Man deserves no such good fortune. The wisdom of the few was not able to avoid the destruction brought about by the big¬ otry of the many, and as time hath not yet raised man from the thraldom of narrow bigotry and super¬ stition, it is better that what few relics are left shall pass away with him who hath given up his life to their care and study. “ What think you of modern learning? Doth it exist, or is it but a sham, a pretext to cover hollow¬ ness? “ Why, sir, those ancients were our masters, our preceptors, in everything that bordered on wisdom. They were the skilled and hardy navigators that sailed the seas of the unknown, endeavoring to dis¬ cover the land of true knowledge. 86 THE STRANGE STORY OF “ They were the originators—the inventors—while we are merely assimilators, imitators. “ Look about thee. What dost thou see ? Ruins, ruins, nothing but ruins. “ Where are the temples, the academies and the groves ? “ What hath become of the divinely inspired architects who from clay and stone, fashioned struct¬ ures whose very ruins are magnificent? “ And the sages and philosophers, whither have they gone ? “All, all, gone to that; eternal rest, where sage and rustic, ruler and slave, rich and poor, forget inequality in the placid sleep of death. “ Oh, that I could turn back the universe, sum¬ mon the great and learned dead to cast off the draperies of the tomb, and stand forth before this degenerate age in all the glory of their eminence! ” The old man’s head fell forward on his chest and tears of grief rolled down his cheeks. I was greatly affected by his manner and sorrow, and sought to recall him to himself by endeavoring to turn his thoughts to other channels, but my efforts were of no avail; he did not seem to be con¬ scious of my presence and continued in this sorrow¬ ful condition for some time. Finally, however, he arose and without further comment started down one of the halls that led im¬ mediately from the court. Not knowing what to do, I followed, feeling that DR. SENEX. 87 my presence might prove indispensable, as his con¬ duct savored somewhat of mania. He walked through two or three deserted passage ways, until confronted by a ponderous bronze door, the like of which either in design or workmanship I had never before seen. From the folds of his gown he produced a key, and fitting it in the lock turned it and grasping a ring, which was held in the mouth of a lion’s head emblazoned on the door, swung the latter back and disappeared in the darkness beyond the threshold. I hesitated a moment, uncertain whether I ought to follow him, but my curiosity was aroused and I also passed within the mysterious entrance. The old man had disappeared, and it was so dark that I could hardly distinguish the stone walls of the narrow passage. But the sound of his footfalls enabled me to make my way, until suddenly I stepped out into a large square room, lighted only by narrow windows, heavily ironed, that were placed in the massive wall almost at the roof, giving a soft but rather inadequate light. My heart gave a great bound when I perceived that the walls were provided with shelves on which rested dark colored musty rolls of parchment, which I at once conceived to be the remnants of the library the old man had told me about. It would be impossible to describe my sensations, as I gazed at the relics which contained the wisdom of forgotten sages. 88 THE STRANGE STORY OF At last, after years of wandering and research, I stood in the presence of the great departed. Here before me lay their immortal thoughts, em¬ balmed in enduring papyrus, while their corporeal remains, many ages since had become senseless dust. But where was Artixus ? Not perceiving him I went onward until I stood before another door, through which I passed and found myself in another chamber, similar to the first but much smaller. It was only lighted by a lamp such as the ancients used, which was placed on a table in the centre of the room. I found him intently regarding a parchment which was unrolled, and muttering to himself. He was ob¬ livious of my presence, so deeply engrossed was he in the manuscript. I could see that it was written in Greek, but the characters were so indistinct, that from where I stood I could not decipher them. Not daring to disturb him I contented myself with watching him and listening to his comments. “ It can be done, but shall I do it ? I Artixus, the descendant of the great Demetrius Phalerius ? Shall I break that unwritten code which has ever governed my illustrious ancestors, depart from their teachings, merely that I may exist the longer to preserve these volumes for an unworthy age ? “ If I die these sacred charges must die with me. This beloved remnant—these silent yet living scrolls,—must seek their tomb with me. DR. SENEX. 89 “ Whether I die or live is of no importance, save that with my demise occurs also the saddest funeral the sun ever saw.” Artixus, continued thus alternately for a time to talk to himself and to scan the roll before him, but at last becoming weary, his head fell forward on his hands, and I perceived that he was fast asleep. I gently disengaged the roll from his hands and holding it near the light, found that it was a treatise upon medicine, written by one of the most celebrated pupils of Hypocrates. I had in my sojourn come across many queer and curious volumes of now forgotten writers, but the manuscript that I held in my hands was by all odds the oldest and best preserved work that I had ever seen. Being familiar with Greek, I had no trouble to read the writing as the characters were distinct—a wonderful thing considering the extreme age of the work. I became so deeply engrossed that I did not notice that my companion had awakened. A movement of his, however, apprised me of the fact, and, turning toward him, I was startled by his countenance. No longer did it wear that melan¬ choly but benignant appearance, but he glowered upon me with such a look of anger and malevolence, that I hastily arose, as if expecting an attack. “ Wretch,” he cried, “how darest thou enter the 90 THE STRANGE STORY OF portals of a retreat which no man save myself and my ancestors have entered for centuries ? “ These walls, could they talk, would denounce thee for the interloper that thou art. “ Hast thou no respect for the sacred rules of hos¬ pitality, that thou couldst thus ruthlessly break them and penetrate, unasked, within the most private of places ? “ Oh, that I could, like the Hebrew Sampson, pull these walls down upon thy offending head.” The old man had worked himself up into an un¬ governable rage, and he paced the floor like a mad¬ man. I tried to pacify him, but he seemed to grow the angrier because of my endeavors, so I concluded to let his anger take its course, hoping he would quiet down and listen to my explanations. Finally he grew calmer, and then I explained to him why I had followed him ; that I was fearful that he was not himself, that I might be of service to him, and that it was not from idle curiosity. I offered to depart at once, and to give my most sacred oath, that I would never divulge the secrets that had inadvertently become mine. He seemed satisfied with my explanation, and soon became as kindly loquacious as he was before we en¬ tered the retreat. He expatiated upon his charge ; the history of the different manuscripts; how they had been so well preserved and how the entire collection had escaped 1 DR. SENEX. 91 the destruction that befell the rest. He became elo¬ quent as, taking roll after roll from its resting place, he gave me a synopsis of its contents and the history of the writer. Some he considered more valuable and precious than others, and speaking of them, said: “ Of this entire collection, the manuscript you saw me reading, which you also have glanced at, and one other which is anonymous, but considered by my predecessors to be the work of a disciple of Pytha¬ goras, and which came into the collection some four centuries after the founding of the library, I consider, for various reasons, the most valuable. “ The first contains a secret which, if known, would revolutionize the world, and the other contains a solution of the problem of existence, providing the conditions set forth are strictly adhered to. “ You may think this incredible, but I am con¬ vinced such is the fact, although I have never tried either. The only reason for my not doing so, how¬ ever, is because of the unwritten code prohibiting it which has never been departed from by any of my predecessors. “ You can little imagine how dear to me is each and every thing that these silent walls inclose. If you could but glean in this field for a fortnight, you would discover that the wisdom of the ancients was so profound, that even some knowledge of the in¬ finite was embraced within their province. “ Their sphere was higher than ours. They were 92 THE STRANGE STORY OF not content with the measurements of the known, but sought rather to sound the depths of the un¬ known. “ They contemplated self, merely to find the rela¬ tion they bore to their emanation, and thereby to approximate to the origin of matter and life. “ They stood not with their backs to the light, to bore into the religions and creeds of man, to find the existence of divinity. “ They did not content themselves with the tra¬ ditions of men who erected images of God after their own likeness. “ Rather, did . they scrutinize the heavens and earth, and that wonderful piece of mechanism, the mind; in fact all nature, that they might catch one glimpse of the foot-prints of the Creator.” The old man waxed eloquent as he thus descanted upon the greatness of the men whose works he had so carefully guarded, and never will I forget the almost divine expression of his countenance, illu¬ mined as it was by the enthusiasm that pervaded him. But the mood did not last long ; he became sad¬ dened by the thought that all must perish with him. I tried to induce him to change his resolution. I pointed out to him that it was his duty to his fellow men and to his age, not to allow this foolish tradi¬ tion to be the means of destruction to so valuable an inheritance. I even asked him why it was that he had not ren- DR. SENEX. 93 dered their continued existence possible, by leaving an heir. He smiled, sadly, and answered that he had been a husband and a father, but it was his misfortune to survive his family. All my prayers and solicitations had no effect upon him, and I departed late in the evening, won¬ derfully interested in all that I had seen and learned, but saddened beyond expression at the thought that the destruction of those valuable remnants was im¬ minent. r I could not content myself with the thought that I was powerless to prevent this, and driven almost to despair, I resolved to call in the power of the gov¬ ernment and, if possible, thwart the old man in his intentions. I lay awake until a late hour, debating what I should do. All at once I was startled by an alarm sounding through the city and by loud cries and the tramping of feet. Wondering what was the cause of the commotion, I hastily dressed and going out upon the street, joined in with the running crowd. I soon came to where the crowd was massed, and with a sinking heart I perceived it was before the ruins of Artixus. I elbowed my way to the front, and learned that there was a fire in the interior of the structure, and that the firemen could not get at it because of an immense bronze door that barred the way. 94 THE STRANGE STORY OF I made my way through the hall until I attained a position where I could see the men endeavoring to break down the door with huge rams. I perceived that the smoke was pouring from the high grated windows, whose purpose, I alone of that excited group, knew. The smell of burning papy¬ rus and parchment was almost stifling, and then I realized what was burning. Controlling myself no longer, I cried aloud, “ Where is Artixus ? Where is the librarian ? ” But no one seemed to know. He had not been seen, and the awful truth dawned upon me that my aged friend was, in all probability, within the vaulted chambers and perhaps ere this dead. I screamed out that Artixus was within the burn¬ ing walls, - and I implored and prayed the men to re¬ double their exertions. Incited thus, they labored and battered until finally the door fell in with a mighty crash, and with a leap I was in the van of the crowd that rushed through the passage into the chamber. But the smoke was so intense, that we were all compelled to retire for fear of suffocation. But the removal of the door created a strong draught which enabled us again to enter. The lighted torches cast a weird and ghostly light, which enabled us to see the cause of the conflagra¬ tion. / Oh, direful sight! There in the centre of the large stone sealed chamber were the ashes of all ML SENEX. 95 those precious and valuable works I had but a few hours before contemplated with longing eyes, and in the centre lay the charred and now unrecognizable body of Artixus. This then was the end—this his bier. Here was the destruction at once of all that remained to man¬ kind of the accumulated labor and genius of the mighty yet silent past, and of the gifted but strange old man who for so many years had zealously guarded them. * This was the saddest burial that man has known. Can there, will there, ever be a resurrection ? I was utterly overcome by the whole affair, and my disappointment was more intense than words can express. The firemen gathered up the remains as best they could and carried them to the open court, while I proceeded to enter the inner chamber. But noth¬ ing was left even there. I returned to the other room and began stirring around amongst the embers, hoping to find one little scrap that had escaped the conflagration. I was rewarded beyond my expecta¬ tions ; for underneath, to my great joy, I unearthed two rolls of papyrus, which by chance had escaped total destruction. With trembling hand I bore them out still hot, to the open court, and by the light of the numerous torches, discovered that they were the identical works before referred to. I hastily caught up a curtain, that had been torn 96 THE STRANGE STORY OF down in the excitement, and wrapping the manu¬ scripts in it, started for home, not however, until I had aided to the best of my ability in disposing of the remains of the unfortunate suicide. For everything confirmed me in my opinion that the burning of the collection and his own end were premeditated. The death of the old librarian caused but little comment and, indeed, it seemed as if the strange old fellow had not even a friend to mourn him. The government paid no heed to his demise, and as far as I could learn, there was not a person in Alexan¬ dria who seemed to appreciate the loss which his death was to the world of letters. This, perhaps, could be explained by the fact, that the existence of any number of ancient manuscripts under his care and protection, was not credited, inasmuch as Ar- tixus had never made known to a single soul, except myself, the whereabouts of the sacred collection. And the fact that after his death, he soon ceased to exist in the memory of his neighbors, and that even to this day I never since have heard the name of Artixus spoken by a living being, is conclusive evi¬ dence that I alone was the sharer of his secret. The two works I had so fortunately saved soon en¬ grossed my entire attention, and the many original and ingenious theories and alleged demonstrated truths contained in them, were food for me for study and reflection for many long years to come. The one written by the pupil of Hypocrates, was DR. SENEX. 97 especially interesting, inasmuch as it was a work treating entirely of man in his relation to the known; it also hypothecated theories of the alleviation and cure of diseases to which mankind is heir, and of the more mystical and hitherto unknown methods of prolonging life indefinitely. When I first began the perusal of the work, I did so under considerable mental disquiet, because of the fact that it very early hinted at means whereby life might be prolonged at will, and unavoidably re¬ called to my mind the fearful and fatal attempt of the unfortunate Heingardt to achieve the like re¬ sult. But as I read further, I perceived that the thoughts before me had emanated from a mind of an entirely different kind. The premises were so logically and conservatively stated, and led so gradually, but surely up to the natural conclusion, that before I knew it, I was ap¬ proving the scheme and forecasting the result as easily and certainly, as if there could be no reason¬ able or rational doubt. And after I had concluded, I laid the work down with the feeling that I had been spending hours in the presence of a master mind, capable of the closest communion with nature. There were no if s and and’s ; no hesitanc} r and mystic phraseology, which leave the reader uncer¬ tain as to the real meaning; no absurd fantastical phrases and unheard of conditions, which unless com* 7 98 THE STRANGE STORY OF plied with, render the experiment a nullity. There was nothing that approached or even savored of the dreams of the Alchemists or the Rosierucians. Everything on the contrary was stated with the precision of a problem in Euclid. To read was to become convinced, not only as to the originality, scope'and towering intellect of the author, but of the fact that the arguments laid down, were not only possible but probable. The most skeptical of minds would be compelled to admit, that every sentence, every word, had been thoroughly weighed, tested, as it were, by the closest analysis, and that absolute verity would re¬ sult from the careful following of the precepts. The perusal awakened in me the long dormant de¬ sire to accomplish some such result, a desire which I believed to have been entirely crushed by the one disastrous attempt before narrated. Even a like ter¬ rible danger could not entirely stifle the wish to overstep the boundaries of the known and exult in powers, which would enable me to exchange the garb of old age for the joyous vestments of youth. For I had grown old and while at that time I did not fear death, yet the desire to live was just as strong within me. as when I had reached but half my present age. What mind, howsoever pure, would be able to withstand such a temptation ? What human being endowed with good health and strong vitality would be able so far to ignore an instrument of such power, DR. SENEX. 99 as not to have a strong inclination to avail himself of the results it would offer ? Time and again I would walk about aimlessly in order to overcome the eagerness that would spring up within me to test this theory and rejuvenate my¬ self. The influence it exerted upon me was so strong that the warnings of the past and the voice of con¬ science were hushed by the awful and overpowering selfishness to prolong my existence at will. The spell followed me everywhere. Even when I would gaze up into the starry heavens, its unchang¬ ing and unceasing existence, the knowledge that thousands of years ago it was even thus, and would continue the same for thousands of ages to come, would so impress me with the perpetuality of nature that I could not repress the conclusion, that so it ought to be with man. I read and reread the work, and with each read¬ ing I was brought more and more under the spell of the writer’s influence, and before I was aware of it, his thoughts and ideas dominated me to such an ex¬ tent that I resolved, without delay to make a practi¬ cal test of his theories. Such a conclusion, however, was not reached with¬ out considerable opposition of conscience ; for to carry out the design was to sink one’s innate sense of humanity and give free rein to self. To accomplish successfully the experiment, I 100 THE STRANGE STORY OF needed to find a young man willing to lend me his aid, or rather his youthful blood. For the principle of the theory was founded upon the transfusion of blood from a young man into that of an old, and the drawing of the old and effete fluid from the old to the young, by counter transfusion. The good results would accrue entirely to the aged, while the effects upon the youth were by no means certain, but the chances were that such an exchange of fluids would be to his detriment; as the writer said, u that oftimes such an exchange is followed by a speedy decline on the part of the young who yield themselves to the experiment.” I delayed for weeks before even attempting to per¬ fect arrangements for the experiment. I could not overcome the feeling that even if I did succeed in gaining the assistance of some one, I would be di¬ rectly responsible for whatever serious results might accrue to him. If death should ensue, would I not be in fact a murderer ? There was one other element entering into the ex¬ periment fraught with no little difficulty. It was to manufacture a peculiar drug, which according to the tenets of the author, was to have the effect of chang¬ ing the anatomical structure of the tissues so as to render the entire structure sensitive and apprecia¬ tive to the re-invigorating fluid. Its action upon the vascular system was to thor- DB. SEttEX. 101 ouglily cleanse it of all effete and worn out organic substances accumulated through long years of use* This drug could only be obtained by a very dan¬ gerous experiment, as the fumes emitted in the proc¬ ess possessed such fatal properties that to inhale them would mean instant death. I first resolved to test the regimen of the writer in this, and if the drug could be produced, then I would go on and complete the experiment, come what might. I worked for many months in a laboratory, which I improvised for the occasion, and I was ena¬ bled only after many disappointments to accomplish the desired result. The nature and properties of this compound and the means by which it is made, I refrain from pub¬ lishing, for reasons set forth heretofore. Looking back now, I know that this preparation has been the one great cause of my sorrows and griefs, of my trials and sufferings, but from which thank Heaven, I can save others by not putting ruthlessly in their hands a secret fraught with so much danger. Having successfully compounded the drug the great problem now was to find some one who would yield himself to the great test. There was an abundance of young men within the city who would fit the requirements both physically and mentally. But I soon found that it was no easy task to per¬ suade them to part with their precious life-blood. I 102 THE STRANGE STORY OF even stooped to subterfuge and misrepresentation, telling them that there could come no harm by loan¬ ing as it were, just a little of their blood. I offered them fabulous sums, for I was rich and could afford it. But to all my entreaties and temptations they only shook their heads. I grew desperate, for the spark of desire had now flamed into a conflagration ; virtue, honesty and hu¬ manity were swept aside by its devouring greed, and I resolved to find a subject cost what it might. I shook the ancient dust of Egypt from my feet and set forth in quest of prey. I visited the Orient, Greece, Italy, France, Spain, and finally landed in prosaic and sensible old En¬ gland, without having found one who would lend himself to the experiment; why I should come to England—the last place in the world that one would expect to find a being filled with sufficient enthusi¬ asm or curiosity to enter into such an undertaking —I know not. I settled down there more from ex¬ haustion and disappointment than anything else. But how strangely the fates unravel the tangled skeins of destiny. They choose their own means and time regardless of poor mortal’s wishes; for where one would naturally expect, that climate and inherited conditions and customs, might influence some one, on whom I could cast my net of tempta¬ tion, I found not one. Within this sea-locked island known for its conservatism and phlegmatic DU. SENEX. 103 practicability, I at last without seeking, met the very individual I had looked for in vain ! There was a celebrated physician whose wonder¬ ful cures and operations had been the talk of en¬ lightened Europe. I had some years previously put myself in commu¬ nication with him, and had furnished him with hints as to the use of certain herbs and curatives, the properties of which I had learned from the many strange people I had met in my travels. Our correspondence had been of mutual benefit, and although I had never met him personally, I felt as if I knew him intimately by reason of this cor¬ respondence, and I resolved to present myself and renew in person the friendship which had thus be¬ gun. One evening, I betook myself to the house of the distinguished man, and to the servant’s inquiry “ Whom he should say wanted to see his master,” I replied that it was a friend from the Orient who pre¬ ferred not to give his name. The factotum e} r ed me rather curiously after such a request, and bowing, withdrew to do as he was bid. Presently the curtains were pulled back and be¬ fore me stood the man I sought. I arose, and extending my hand, said, “ You, per¬ haps are surprised at receiving so strange a summons ; my withholding my name however, arose from curi¬ osity on my part to see whether you would be able to conjecture who I am.” 104 THE STRANGE STORY OE t He took my hand and scrutinized me, in a most searching manner, but evidently without coming to any satisfactory conclusion. At length he said : “ I confess that I do not; but your venerable ap¬ pearance makes you wholly welcome, even though you should wish to remain incognito. Be seated and tell me in what manner I can serve you. I smiled at his inability to recognize me, for I thought that my letters had perhaps conveyed some idea of my personal appearance, and answered by asking him 44 what success he had had with the Hin¬ doo narcotic I had sent him.” At these words he sprang to his feet and coming to where I was standing, looked at me in an excited mannei;. 44 It can’t be,” he said. 44 But yet it must. You are Doctor Senex, by St. George,” and grasping me by the hand, he wrung it heartily in the true Briton way. He was delighted to meet me and leading me to his study he gave orders that we should not be dis¬ turbed. Our conversation extended far into the night, for I related to him much concerning, my travels and studies. He was loath to let me go at all and made me promise that on the morrow I would bring my effects, and make him an extended visit. I accompanied him in many cases to the bedside of the afflicted and often by suggestions and manip¬ ulations aided him in his work. My time was so taken up in scientific and medical 105 DE. SEN EX. \ discussions with him, that I temporarily, almost lost sight of the great project which had engrossed me, and although with much regret, I felt it necessary to take permament lodgings elsewhere. One day my friend desired me to accompany him to one of the hospitals, to attend a young physician who had been stricken down by some virus getting into a slight abrasion of the skin, while dissecting a cadaver. The malady was peculiar and so far had baffled the unremitting endeavors of my learned friend. “ It is a sad case,” he said. “ It seems that noth¬ ing that I can do or give him, has any perceptible effect upon the virulent poison which is slowly, but surely consuming his vitality. “ Each and eveiy antidote seems as powerless as so much water, and in spite of my best endeavors he is failing before my very eyes. “But that is not all that lends interest to the case, for every day he is visited by a most beautiful girl, who, I learn, is his betrothed. 44 Her grief at what seems to be his approaching death is heartrending, and moves me to compassion. 44 Still, I am powerless to aid him and must stand with my hands tied, and watch the grim phantom steal away this young girl’s idol. “ It is hard to see a man, ambitious of the future, sink day by day nearer to nature’s lap, and to be un¬ able to call him back to strength and happiness.” I was greatly interested at what my friend told 106 THE STRANGE STORY OF me, and gladly accompanied him to the bedside of his patient. We entered the dimly lighted room in which he lay, and stepping quietly to his side gazed upon the most beautiful face that I have ever seen possessed by a man. A broad, high, intellectual forehead was sur¬ mounted with brown curly locks that a god might have envied. Beneath were great brown eyes that looked into mine with an expression so woe-be-gone, that I could scarcely repress my tears. The lines of his forehead betokened enthusiasm of purpose, and the firm-built chin showed the resolve with which such purpose could be carried out. Instinctively I recognized the ideal of my hopes. Here before me was a young man whose enthusiasm would induce him to lend himself to any great ex¬ periment tending to put him in possession of a se¬ cret calculated to benefit mankind. He was the one man of all that I had ever known or seen, to enlist in an experiment so dangerous as the one I contemplated, but it seemed that I had found him but to lose him, like the thristy Bedouin and the long looked for oasis, which fades away into a mirage. I made a critical examination, and soon satisfied myself that my friend’s diagnosis of the case was right, and that the chances for saving him were slim indeed. It was a fearful thing to think that such a magnif- DR. SENEX. 107 icent specimen of manhood, should be allowed to die just as lie was graduating into all the faculties of maturity, but there did seem to be no help for him, and I turned from his bedside sick at heart in the knowledge of our impotency to grapple with his insidious malady. When we reached home again, I gave myself up to thinking about the young man—whose name I learned was Novus—and tried to recall out of the dark recesses of my memory some of the methods and means used by the learned Hindus to counteract the effects of insidious poisons. None of them seemed to me likely to be efficacious in such a case, so I tried to forget the subject by retiring to the privacy of my own chamber, and burying myself, as it were, in my favorite manuscripts. While thus engaged, it occurred to me that the drug which I had so successfully made while in Alex¬ andria, was supposed to have the effect of eradicat¬ ing noxious elements in the system, and if it were true, why not test its efficacy by trying it upon Dr. Novus ? The thought no sooner presented itself than I jumped up with a cry of delight, for I had such faith in its alleged properties, that no doubt of its power to counteract and remove the subtile poison, for a moment was tolerated. It was even then past midnight, but so excited was I by the suggestion, that I became impatient to make the trial without further delay. 108 THE STRANGE STORV OF Accordingly, with a vial containing the precious drug, I went to my host’s room and requested him to accompany me to the hospital, as I had a desire to test a new specific, which I believed would have a bene¬ ficial effect upon his patient. He interrogated me as to its nature, but I told him that “It was a secret, and I could not make known its properties until it had been thoroughly tested.” He demurred to my experimenting with his pa¬ tient, and was loath to grant me permission to try a new and unknown concoction on one whom he had come to regard so highly. Finally when I assured him that there could not possibly be any harm from the drug itself, and that I would be responsible for the safety of his patient, he accompanied me to the hospital. A speedy examination of the patient’s condition by both of us, revealed the fact that unless some¬ thing was done without delay, to stay the encroach¬ ments of the malady, death must shortly ensue. He had reached that stage, when the skin was al¬ most cracking from the effects of the fever engen¬ dered by the poison, and his sufferings were horrible to witness. Swallowing with him was now almost an impossi¬ bility, and it was necessary to use the utmost cau¬ tion in administering the drug; for I rightly judged from the taste, that its intense acidity would easily produce strangulation in such a case. It behooved me, therefore, to give it in minute DR. SENEX. 109 doses, trusting that its effects would be just as Po¬ tent, although slower. Having prepared the drug so that it was in a form adapted for swallowing, I raised the sufferer’s head, and let a few drops fall upon the palate, which after a short struggle were assimilated. My friend watched me with no inconsiderable in¬ terest, for the drug was not one embraced within even his large pharmacopoeia. I repeated the dose thrice within an hour, breath¬ lessly watching for some effect upon the patient. No one can imagine the strain upon my nerves while waiting for some evident effect of its presence, for in a measure, this was a test of one of the prime elements entering into the much mooted experiment. Finally, I could see that the fever was slightly abating and the sufferings of the patient decreasing. I again raised his head, and was enabled to allow a larger portion of the drug to run down his throat. The effect now became more patent; the fever ceased almost instantly, and was followed by a copious sweat—that harbinger of recovery—and finally he settled into a peaceful and perfect slumber. My friend gazed with undisguised astonishment at what was taking place before him, and at this last result, grasped me enthusiastically by the hand, and exclaimed : “You are a wizard, sir. You have accomplished what has baffled me for days; that young man owes his life to you, unaided.” 110 THE STRANGE STORY OF \ “ Do you think so, my clear Doctor? ” I responded. 44 Well, perhaps I shall claim it of him in payment. ,f And with a few directions to the nurse we took our departure. On the morrow, I called again, and was greatly astonished at the remarkable progress the sick man had made in so short a time. He was slumbering peacefully when I entered his chamber, but I had been there but a few minutes when he opened his eyes, and said, 44 Oh, I have had the strangest vision that ever a mortal had. “It seemed to me that unseen hands of rare soft¬ ness of touch were slowly but surely smoothing away all pain, and were anointing me with some strange ointment, and while doing this a voice seemed to say, 4 This is the essence of everlasting youth ; that which it touches is cleansed and made anew.’ 44 And then I thought I saw an aged man rise out of a sort of mist, with a mysterious fluid in his hand which he held forth to me, and he said, 4 Youth, be¬ hold the medium of thy salvation. One drop from the precious contents of this vial will avert within thee the first seeds of decay. I have given it to thee that thou mightest live, and I alone of all mankind know its secret, and I freely make known its char¬ acter to thee, but for a purpose—a purpose. “ 4 Grim death had all but folded thee in its inevit¬ able mantle; and even now stands gnashing his teeth with rage that thou hast eluded him. i DR. SENEX. Ill “ 4 1 am thy savior ; had I not seen lit to save thee, thou wouldstere now be numbered among the count¬ less dead. 44 4 But thy beauty, thy intellect, and thy courage have marked thee for great and noble deeds. 44 ‘Behold in me a man, who, by reason of years am already a candidate for the grave, and yet I am not now so near the dark portal as thou wert. I saved thee, but though I can save others, I am powerless to save myself unaided when the dread summons shall come. With thy help I can laugh defiance at death’s mandates and ignore its very existence. 44 4 If thou wilt so do, we together can march down the aisles of time, unmindful of that monster that otherwise will inevitably devour us. 44 4 See! by this I have reclaimed thee from his grasp; now I implore thee as a recompense to do likewise for me. 44 4 With thy aid perpetual youth is mine, and with mine thou canst never grow old. 4k 4 What, sayest thou, is it a compact? ’ 44 1 seemed to acquiesce readily, and he embraced me, and with his touch there rushed over me such a flood of knowledge that it seemed as if, in a moment, I had fathomed life itself and its relation to the uni¬ verse. “Then the old man kissed my forehead and with these words, 4 Remember thou wast saved for a pur¬ pose. I gave thee life that thou might some day give life to me; farewell/ he disappeared.” 112 THE STRANGE STORY OF “ Dreams are often prototypes of events ; perhaps there may be a reality back of yours,” I saich “ I could almost think so, sir, when I look at you; for your face looks strangely like the old man of my vision,” he answered. I took his wasted hand in one of mine and strok¬ ing his temples with the other, I strove to turn his thoughts into another channel, marvelling the while that my own thoughts and desires should so have been translated to his hypersensitive brain, by that wonderful and inexplicable sympathy which some¬ times manifests itself under such conditions. True it was that back of my endeavor in his be¬ half lay the selfish purpose, which so readily made itself manifest in his vision. And as I gazed upon his pallid, but beautiful face, and thought for what purpose I had intervened between him and death,. I could not altogether stifle the twinges of conscience, which naturally asserted themselves against my unhallowed design. But I could not repress the latent exultation, which pervaded me, when I thought that fortune at last had put in my way the means of satisfying my one great and consuming ambition. Before I left his bedside, the nurse wanted to know if it would be permissible to admit the young lady who was so interested in the patient. “ By all means,” I replied. “ Her presence is the one thing above all others that will now hasten his convalescence.” DR. SENEX. 113 Presently she entered; tears of joy sprang to her beautiful eyes, and she sank down by his bedside, her hands clasping his, and offered up prayers of thankfulness for his deliverance. I was profoundly touched by her manifestation of j°y- At length she arose and taking both my hands in hers, raised herself upon her toes and kissed me, say¬ ing that the nurse had told her that I was her lover’s savior, and she would always think of me with the strongest feelings of gratitude and love, for having saved her loved one. The contact of her lips as they met mine, and the sight of her beautiful eyes swimming in their happi¬ ness, affected me strongly, and the impulse to clasp her to my heart was almost overmastering. Old as I was, I felt almost jealous of the youth who had been so fortunate as to have enchained the affections of this beautiful girl. How indelibly her image engraved itself upon my memory! Even now after a lapse of years I can see her as she stood then, looking into the eyes of her betrothed, with a look any man might envy. Nature had been most kind to her, most profuse with its endowments. She was of medium height, Vith an abundance of long wavy hair, overtopping a brow white as alabaster, beneath which shone eyes of expressive grey, whose beauty was enhanced by long drooping lashes and set off by the perfect arch¬ ing of her black eye-brows, 8 114 THE STRANGE STORY OF Her mouth, a trifle full, but fashioned after Cupid’s bow, was indicative of a loving *.and passionate dis¬ position. Her slender, sinuous figure, just blossoming into the full promise of womanhood, was as graceful as a willow, and every movement, every feature bespoke the natural charm of her person. Reluctantly 1 tore myself away and left them to their happy communing with each other. That night my thoughts were full of these two young people, and my eyes closed in sleep only to dream of Mildred Lee, for that was her name. Think of it, I, an aged man in- whom the fires of passion were supposed to have been long extinct, dreaming of this young girl! Absurd, you will say, and so it was, but remember I had never loved. The young man convalesced rapidly under my treatment, and in a few weeks was well enough to be about, I spent much of my time with him, and used every device of which I was master, to impress myself upon him, and to gain his affection. I soon probed the natural depth and bent of his mind and its latent possibilities. I learned that I was not mistaken in my first im¬ pressions as to his natural courage and enthusiasm, provided the desire to accomplish well-nigh impossi¬ ble ‘things could be awakened within him. Our intercourse was most intimate, for I made it DR. SEN EX.' 115 an object to be in his society as much as possible. I soon began to unfold to him the unexplored fields of science and chemistry to which as yet he was a stranger. I thought it best to let him see the shad¬ owy outline only of my erudition, for the purpose of quickening his desire to reach a like condition. Sometimes I would accompany him to his labora¬ tory and there astonish him with chemical experi¬ ments, the like of which he had never dreamed. Drugs which he knew to be efficacious under given conditions, but the component parts of which he was ignorant of, I readily resolved to their constituent elements. I accompanied him to the side of his sick patients and often healed those he had given up as lost. He soon began to look upon me as a superior being, one whose range of intellect embraced knowledge of which he and his colleagues were profoundly igno¬ rant. I took good care that his interest should never flag, and I whisked him from subject to subject with bewildering rapidity. Did he but suggest a topic, I would immediately discourse upon it in a way to arouse his enthusiastic commendation. 1 frequently astonished myself by the ease with which I brought forth from the caverns of memory, golden fruit. There was one subject which I kept constantly before his mind, and that was the relation of life to death. I soon perceived that orthodox religion had no hold 116 THE STRANGE STORY OF on him, and that his ideas of man and his relation to the universe were not restrained within the limits of a creed. I took advantage of this condition and unfolded my own ideas of life and the essential conditions necessary to it, concealing at the same time the real design back of my discourses ; for I early perceived that, although endowed with a resolute and bold in¬ tellect, yet even he would be very apt to scout at any theory that looked to sanctioning the existence of an elixir vitae ; scorning as he did the very name of alchemist. To such low ebb had the reputation of that really great school fallen. Consequently it behooved me to lead him up to the contemplation of my true purpose with cau¬ tion and slowness, playing upon his eagerness for knowledge with the pleasing music of an unknown lore. My object was to stupefy him by my superior in¬ formation, blind him by my subtlety, and enchain him with gratitude, until I should feel that he was as thoroughly mine as Faust was subject to Mephis- topheles. I summoned all the powers of which I was master to my aid, and I undoubtedly was not over-scrupu¬ lous as to methods. But, recollect I was fighting for life, and while now I realize the dishonesty of it all, then I justified it. I did not confine my efforts to enslave him only, but I early proceeded to cast my web to entrap his DR. SENEX. 117 affiancee. My purpose in tliat direction was two-fold; to render her harmless to counteract the effects of my influence over her lover and to awaken in her more than ordinary interest in myself. To what extent one’s natural honesty of purpose and sense of equity can be perverted by the interven¬ tion of a ruthless and scheming self-interest! Truly, the seeds of early religious coercion were now making themselves manifest. And thus my time was spent in gaining ascend¬ ency over these two unsuspecting mortals, moulding both to a purpose, the existence of which they did not dream. We would often journey into the country and give ourselves up to the freedom of a closer contact with nature. On one of these rambles Novus and I strolled into a country churchyard, besprinkled with the custom¬ ary gravestones, where, “ Curfew tolls the knell of parting day.” Why we should have entered here, I know not, unless fate so directed our footsteps, eager to throw in my way the opportunity of making known my ulterior purpose. “Man cannot count the airy threads that weave'the web of circumstance.” While wandering in and about the time-stained and crumbling monuments, one gigantic slab bearing a peculiar epitaph, arrested our attention. It ran thus: 118 THE STRANGE STORY OF “ The sleeper ’neath this senseless stone, With eager hopes had vainly sought, To gain that sphere where he alone, Could render death’s encroachments naught. Alas for him, and human kind! The sure and dread destroyer came And left of him and his design, A transient memory and a name.” The sentiment appealed to both of us, and the same query sprang simultaneously to our lips. Why is it thus ? Why is it that man with all his boasted powers and achievements can do naught to prolong his own life ? This seemed to me to be a favorable opportunity to expatiate upon the subject, which policy and dis¬ cretion had heretofore precluded. I could see that his thoughts had taken a turn that would render him capable of assimilating ideas, which at other moments he would repel. So, taking his hand in mine and pointing to the in¬ scription, I said: “ Has it never occurred to you that somewhere in nature there might exist some catholicon that would prove efficacious in holding death in abeyance for an indefinite time ? “ Did it ever occur to you that death might prove to be a condition rather than a result ? That this structure which we call self, is, after all, more de¬ pendent upon external influences than upon any¬ thing purely subjective ? DB. SENEX. 119 “ True, we exist, move and act consistently with natural governing laws; but have we any reason to suppose that death is in itself an unchange¬ able necessity? “ You .may answer by saying, 6 Yes, for all things die.’ # ' “But to that I will respond, that such is not lit¬ erally true ; for the sun, moon, stars, and earth itself, seem oblivious to time. “ While all living things do apparently perish, yet I ask, if the universe continues, why should not man ? “ Is not death a result of ignorance of what con¬ stitutes the essentials of life, rather than the accom¬ plishment of an unalterable edict ? “ Man has successfully combated diseases, which if allowed to take their own course, would speedily produce death ; if man can control and eradicate these, why not, by a knowledge of what is the cause of decay, concoct some potent specific which will render even death’s encroachments harmless? “ I am not convinced that death is inevitable, but rather that it is a contingency. “ If we could by some means supply the waste as fast as there is a consumption of tissue, or at least when the waste begins to increase faster than the reconstruction, then we could maintain life as long as the supply and the demand were equal.” While I was talking thus my companion turned to me with such a look of incredulous surprise that for 120 THE STRANGE STORA OE a moment I was apprehensive that I had judged my time but poorly. I could see, however, that he was interested. And the enthusiasm of the subject be¬ ing upon me, I resolved to drive the matter to its conclusion, let the results be what they might.