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attracts towards thee those beings whose life is that light。
Beware of Fear。 Fear is the deadliest enemy to Knowledge。〃 Here
the ciphers changed their character； and became incomprehensible。
But had he not read enough？ Did not the last sentence suffice？
〃Beware of Fear！〃 It was as if Mejnour had purposely left the
page open；as if the trial was； in truth； the reverse of the one
pretended； as if the mystic had designed to make experiment of
his COURAGE while affecting but that of his FORBEARANCE。 Not
Boldness； but Fear； was the deadliest enemy to Knowledge。 He
moved to the shelves on which the crystal vases were placed； with
an untrembling hand he took from one of them the stopper； and a
delicious odor suddenly diffused itself through the room。 The
air sparkled as if with a diamond…dust。 A sense of unearthly
delight；of an existence that seemed all spirit； flashed through
his whole frame； and a faint； low； but exquisite music crept；
thrilling； through the chamber。 At this moment he heard a voice
in the corridor calling on his name； and presently there was a
knock at the door without。 〃Are you there； signor？〃 said the
clear tones of Maestro Paolo。 Glyndon hastily reclosed and
replaced the vial； and bidding Paolo await him in his own
apartment； tarried till he heard the intruder's steps depart； he
then reluctantly quitted the room。 As he locked the door； he
still heard the dying strain of that fairy music； and with a
light step and a joyous heart he repaired to Paolo； inly
resolving to visit again the chamber at an hour when his
experiment would be safe from interruption。
As he crossed his threshold； Paolo started back； and exclaimed；
〃Why； Excellency！ I scarcely recognise you！ Amusement； I see；
is a great beautifier to the young。 Yesterday you looked so pale
and haggard； but Fillide's merry eyes have done more for you than
the Philosopher's Stone （saints forgive me for naming it） ever
did for the wizards。〃 And Glyndon； glancing at the old Venetian
mirror as Paolo spoke； was scarcely less startled than Paolo
himself at the change in his own mien and bearing。 His form；
before bent with thought； seemed to him taller by half the head；
so lithesome and erect rose his slender stature； his eyes glowed；
his cheeks bloomed with health and the innate and pervading
pleasure。 If the mere fragrance of the elixir was thus potent；
well might the alchemists have ascribed life and youth to the
draught！
〃You must forgive me； Excellency； for disturbing you；〃 said
Paolo； producing a letter from his pouch； 〃but our Patron has
just written to me to say that he will be here to…morrow； and
desired me to lose not a moment in giving to yourself this
billet； which he enclosed。〃
〃Who brought the letter？〃
〃A horseman； who did not wait for any reply。〃
Glyndon opened the letter； and read as follows：
〃I return a week sooner than I had intended； and you will expect
me to…morrow。 You will then enter on the ordeal you desire； but
remember that； in doing so； you must reduce Being as far as
possible into Mind。 The senses must be mortified and subdued；
not the whisper of one passion heard。 Thou mayst be master of
the Cabala and the Chemistry； but thou must be master also over
the Flesh and the Blood；over Love and Vanity； Ambition and
Hate。 I will trust to find thee so。 Fast and meditate till we
meet！〃
Glyndon crumpled the letter in his hand with a smile of disdain。
What！ more drudgery；more abstinence！ Youth without love and
pleasure！ Ha； ha！ baffled Mejnour； thy pupil shall gain thy
secrets without thine aid！
〃And Fillide！ I passed her cottage in my way；she blushed and
sighed when I jested her about you； Excellency！〃
〃Well； Paolo！ I thank thee for so charming an introduction。
Thine must be a rare life。〃
〃Ah； Excellency； while we are young； nothing like adventure；
except love； wine； and laughter！〃
〃Very true。 Farewell； Maestro Paolo； we will talk more with each
other in a few days。〃
All that morning Glyndon was almost overpowered with the new
sentiment of happiness that had entered into him。 He roamed into
the woods； and he felt a pleasure that resembled his earlier life
of an artist； but a pleasure yet more subtle and vivid； in the
various colours of the autumn foliage。 Certainly Nature seemed
to be brought closer to him； he comprehended better all that
Mejnour had often preached to him of the mystery of sympathies
and attractions。 He was about to enter into the same law as
those mute children of the forests。 He was to know THE RENEWAL
OF LIFE； the seasons that chilled to winter should yet bring
again the bloom and the mirth of spring。 Man's common existence
is as one year to the vegetable world： he has his spring； his
summer； his autumn； and winter；but only ONCE。 But the giant
oaks round him go through a revolving series of verdure and
youth； and the green of the centenarian is as vivid in the beams
of May as that of the sapling by its side。 〃Mine shall be your
spring； but not your winter！〃 exclaimed the aspirant。
Wrapped in these sanguine and joyous reveries； Glyndon； quitting
the woods； found himself amidst cultivated fields and vineyards
to which his footstep had not before wandered； and there stood；
by the skirts of a green lane that reminded him of verdant
England； a modest house；half cottage； half farm。 The door was
open； and he saw a girl at work with her distaff。 She looked up；
uttered a slight cry； and； tripping gayly into the lane to his
side； he recognised the dark…eyed Fillide。
〃Hist！〃 she said； archly putting her finger to her lip； 〃do not
speak loud；my mother is asleep within； and I knew you would
come to see me。 It is kind！〃
Glyndon； with a little embarrassment； accepted the compliment to
his kindness； which he did not exactly deserve。 〃You have
thought； then； of me； fair Fillide？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered the girl； colouring； but with that frank； bold
ingenuousness； which characterises the females of Italy；
especially of the lower class； and in the southern provinces；
〃oh； yes！ I have thought of little else。 Paolo said he knew you
would visit me。〃
〃And what relation is Paolo to you？〃
〃None； but a good friend to us all。 My brother is one of his
band。〃
〃One of his band！a robber？〃
〃We of the mountains do not call a mountaineer 'a robber；'
signor。〃
〃I ask pardon。 Do you not tremble sometimes for your brother's
life？ The law〃
〃Law never ventures into these defiles。 Tremble for him！ No。
My father and grandsire were of the same calling。 I often wish I
were a man！〃
〃By these lips； I am enchanted that your wish cannot be
realised。〃
〃Fie； signor！ And do you really love me？〃
〃With my whole heart！〃
〃And I thee！〃 said the girl； with a candour that seemed innocent；
as she suffered him to clasp her hand。
〃But；〃 she added； 〃thou wilt soon leave us； and I〃 She sto