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charlatanic science differ in this from the true and
indisputable；that the last communicates to the world the
process by which it attains its discoveries； the first boasts of
marvellous results； and refuses to explain the causes？〃
〃Well said； O Logician of the Schools； but think again。 Suppose
we were to impart all our knowledge to all mankind
indiscriminately；alike to the vicious and the virtuous；should
we be benefactors or scourges？ Imagine the tyrant； the
sensualist； the evil and corrupted being possessed of these
tremendous powers； would he not be a demon let loose on earth？
Grant that the same privilege be accorded also to the good； and
in what state would be society？ Engaged in a Titan war；the
good forever on the defensive； the bad forever in assault。 In
the present condition of the earth； evil is a more active
principle than good； and the evil would prevail。 It is for these
reasons that we are not only solemnly bound to administer our
lore only to those who will not misuse and pervert it； but that
we place our ordeal in tests that purify the passions and elevate
the desires。 And Nature in this controls and assists us： for it
places awful guardians and insurmountable barriers between the
ambition of vice and the heaven of the loftier science。〃
Such made a small part of the numerous conversations Mejnour held
with his pupil；conversations that； while they appeared to
address themselves to the reason； inflamed yet more the fancy。
It was the very disclaiming of all powers which Nature； properly
investigated； did not suffice to create； that gave an air of
probability to those which Mejnour asserted Nature might bestow。
Thus days and weeks rolled on； and the mind of Glyndon； gradually
fitted to this sequestered and musing life； forgot at last the
vanities and chimeras of the world without。
One evening he had lingered alone and late upon the ramparts；
watching the stars as； one by one； they broke upon the twilight。
Never had he felt so sensibly the mighty power of the heavens and
the earth upon man； how much the springs of our intellectual
being are moved and acted upon by the solemn influences of
Nature。 As a patient on whom； slowly and by degrees； the
agencies of mesmerism are brought to bear； he acknowledged to his
heart the growing force of that vast and universal magnetism
which is the life of creation； and binds the atom to the whole。
A strange and ineffable consciousness of power； of the SOMETHING
GREAT within the perishable clay； appealed to feelings at once
dim and glorious；like the faint recognitions of a holier and
former being。 An impulse； that he could not resist； led him to
seek the mystic。 He would demand； that hour； his initiation into
the worlds beyond our world；he was prepared to breathe a
diviner air。 He entered the castle； and strode the shadowy and
starlit gallery which conducted to Mejnour's apartment。
CHAPTER 4。III。
Man is the eye of things。Euryph； 〃de Vit。 Hum。〃
。。。There is； therefore； a certain ecstatical or transporting
power； which； if at any time it shall be excited or stirred up by
an ardent desire and most strong imagination； is able to conduct
the spirit of the more outward even to some absent and
far…distant object。Von Helmont。
The rooms that Mejnour occupied consisted of two chambers
communicating with each other； and a third in which he slept。
All these rooms were placed in the huge square tower that beetled
over the dark and bush…grown precipice。 The first chamber which
Glyndon entered was empty。 With a noiseless step he passed on；
and opened the door that admitted into the inner one。 He drew
back at the threshold； overpowered by a strong fragrance which
filled the chamber： a kind of mist thickened the air rather than
obscured it； for this vapour was not dark； but resembled a snow…
cloud moving slowly； and in heavy undulations； wave upon wave
regularly over the space。 A mortal cold struck to the
Englishman's heart； and his blood froze。 He stood rooted to the
spot； and as his eyes strained involuntarily through the vapour；
he fancied （for he could not be sure that it was not the trick of
his imagination） that he saw dim； spectre…like； but gigantic
forms floating through the mist； or was it not rather the mist
itself that formed its vapours fantastically into those moving；
impalpable； and bodiless apparitions？ A great painter of
antiquity is said； in a picture of Hades； to have represented the
monsters that glide through the ghostly River of the Dead； so
artfully； that the eye perceived at once that the river itself
was but a spectre； and the bloodless things that tenanted it had
no life； their forms blending with the dead waters till； as the
eye continued to gaze； it ceased to discern them from the
preternatural element they were supposed to inhabit。 Such were
the moving outlines that coiled and floated through the mist； but
before Glyndon had even drawn breath in this atmospherefor his
life itself seemed arrested or changed into a kind of horrid
trancehe felt his hand seized； and he was led from that room
into the outer one。 He heard the door close；his blood rushed
again through his veins； and he saw Mejnour by his side。 Strong
convulsions then suddenly seized his whole frame；he fell to the
ground insensible。 When he recovered； he found himself in the
open air in a rude balcony of stone that jutted from the chamber；
the stars shining serenely over the dark abyss below； and resting
calmly upon the face of the mystic； who stood beside him with
folded arms。
〃Young man；〃 said Mejnour； 〃judge by what you have just felt； how
dangerous it is to seek knowledge until prepared to receive it。
Another moment in the air of that chamber and you had been a
corpse。〃
〃Then of what nature was the knowledge that you； once mortal like
myself； could safely have sought in that icy atmosphere； which it
was death for me to breathe？ Mejnour；〃 continued Glyndon； and
his wild desire； sharpened by the very danger he had passed； once
more animated and nerved him； 〃I am prepared at least for the
first steps。 I come to you as of old the pupil to the
Hierophant； and demand the initiation。〃
Mejnour passed his hand over the young man's heart；it beat
loud； regularly； and boldly。 He looked at him with something
almost like admiration in his passionless and frigid features；
and muttered； half to himself； 〃Surely； in so much courage the
true disciple is found at last。〃 Then； speaking aloud； he added；
〃Be it so； man's first initiation is in TRANCE。 In dreams
commences all human knowledge； in dreams hovers over measureless
space the first faint bridge between spirit and spirit；this
world and the worlds beyond！ Look steadfastly on yonder star！〃
Glyndon obeyed； and Mejnour retired into the chamber； from which
there then slowly emerged a vapour； somewhat paler and of fainter
odour than that which had nearly produced so fatal a