"Listen , sir," he continued, "while I skin this painted viper your oath; reveal an alchemist, sir Since twenty-two years old, pursued the wonderful and subtle secret Yes, to unfold the mysterious Rose guarded terrible thorns; to decipher the wondrous Table of Emerald; to accomplish the mystic nuptials Red King White Queen; to marry them soul to soul and body to body, forever and ever, exact proportions of land and water--such my sublime aim, such the splendid feat that accomplished "

I recognized at glance, incomprehensible farrago, the argot true alchemist Ripley, Flamel, and others have supplied the world, in their works, melancholy spectacle of scientific bedlam

"Two years since," continued the poor man, growing more and more excited with every word that he uttered--"two years since, I succeeded in solving the great problem--in transmuting the baser metals into gold None but myself, that girl, and God knows the privations I had suffered Food, clothing, air, exercise, everything but shelter, was sacrificed toward the one great end Success at last crowned my labors That which Nicholas Flamel did in 1382, that which George Ripley did at Rhodes in 1460, that which Alexander Sethon and Michael Scudivogius did seventeenth century, in 1856 gold ! to myself, ' astonish New York more than Flamel did Paris ' poor copyist, and suddenly launched into magnificence I had scarce rag to my back: rival the Medicis gold every day I toiled night and morning; for tell you that I never was able more than certain quantity , by process almost entirely dissimilar hinted at in those books of alchemy I had hitherto consulted But I had that facility would come with experience, ere long able to eclipse in wealth the richest sovereigns earth

"So I toiled on Day after day girl here what gold I succeeded in fabricating, telling her to store it away after supplying our necessities astonished to perceive that we lived as poorly as ever I reflected, however, perhaps commendable piece of prudence daughter Doubtless, , she argues less we spend the sooner accumulate capital wherewith to live at ease; so, thinking her course wise one, reproach her with her niggardliness, but toiled on, amid want, with closed lips

"The gold which I fabricated was, as before, of an invariable size, namely, little ingot worth perhaps thirty or forty-five dollars In two years I calculated that I had made five hundred ingots, which, rated at an average of thirty dollars apiece, would amount gross sum of fifteen thousand dollars After deducting our slight expenses for two years, we had nearly fourteen thousand dollars left time, , to indemnify myself years of suffering, and surround my child and myself moderate comforts as our means allowed I went to my daughter and explained to her that I desired an encroachment upon our little hoard To my utter amazement, she burst into tears, and told me that she got dollar--that all wealth stolen from her Almost overwhelmed new misfortune, I in vain endeavored to discover from her in what manner our savings plundered afford me no explanation beyond what gather from an abundance of sobs and copious flow of tears

" bitter blow, doctor, but nil desperandum was my motto, so I went to work at my crucible again, with redoubled energy, and made an ingot nearly every second day I determined them in some secure place myself; but the very first day I set my apparatus projection, the girl Marion-- my daughter's name--came weeping and implored me to allow her care treasure I refused decisively, saying that, having found her already incapable of filling the trust, place no faith in her again But she persisted, clung to my neck, threatened to abandon me; in short, used bad but irresistible arguments known to women that I the heart to refuse her She has continued to ingots

"Yet you behold," continued the old alchemist, casting an inexpressibly mournful glance around the wretched apartment, "the way we live Our food is insufficient and of bad quality; we never buy clothes; the rent hole is mere nothing What am I wretched girl who plunges me misery ? Is she miser, think you ? --or female gamester ? --or--or--does she squander it riotously in places not of ? O Doctor, Doctor ! blame me if I heap imprecations on her head, for suffered bitterly ! " The poor man here closed his eyes and sank back groaning bed

This singular narrative excited in me the strangest emotions I glanced girl Marion, who patient listener horrible accusations of cupidity, and never did I behold more angelic air of resignation than beamed over her countenance impossible that anyone with those pure, limpid eyes; that calm, broad forehead; that childlike mouth, such monster of avarice or deceit old man represented The truth was plain enough: the alchemist was mad--what alchemist was there ever who was not ? -- insanity had taken this terrible shape an inexpressible pity move my heart poor girl, whose youth was burdened an awful sorrow

" ? " I asked the old man, taking his tremulous, fevered hand in mine

"William Blakelock," he answered "I come of an old Saxon stock, sir, that bred true in former days God ! how did it ever come that such one girl ever sprung line ? " The glance of loathing and contempt that he cast at her made me shudder

"May you not be mistaken in your daughter ? " , very mildly "Delusions with regard to alchemy are, or , very common--"

"What, sir ? " cried the old man, bounding bed "What ? doubt that gold made ? , sir, that M C Theodore Tiffereau made gold at Paris year 1854 presence of M Levol, the assayer Imperial Mint, result experiments was read Academy of Sciences sixteenth of October same year ? But stay; better proof yet pay you with one ingots, and you shall attend me until well Get me an ingot ! "

This last command was addressed to Marion, who was still kneeling close to her father's bedside I observed her with some curiosity mandate was issued She became very pale, clasped her hands convulsively, but neither moved nor made any reply

"Get me an ingot, ! " reiterated the alchemist passionately

She fixed her large eyes imploringly upon him Her lips quivered, and two huge tears rolled slowly down her white cheeks

"Obey me, wretched girl," cried the old man in an agitated voice, "or I swear, by all that I reverence in heaven and earth, that lay my curse upon you forever ! "

for an instant that I ought perhaps to interfere, and spare the girl the anguish that she was so evidently suffering; but powerful curiosity how this strange scene would terminate withheld me

The last threat of her father, uttered as with terrible vehemence, seemed to appall Marion She rose with sudden leap, serpent had stung her, and, rushing into an inner apartment, returned with small object which she placed in my hand, and then flung herself in chair in distant corner room, weeping bitterly

" -- ," said the old man sarcastically, "how reluctantly she parts with it Take it, sir; yours "

small bar of metal I examined it carefully, poised it in my hand--the color, weight, everything, announced really was gold

"You doubt its genuineness, perhaps," continued the alchemist " acids on yonder table--test it "

I confess that doubt its genuineness; but after I had acted old man's suggestion, all further suspicion was rendered impossible gold highest purity astounded Was then, after all, this man's tale truth ? Was his daughter, that fair, angelic-looking creature, demon of avarice, or slave to worse passions ? bewildered I had never met with anything so incomprehensible I looked from father to daughter blankest amazement I suppose that my countenance betrayed my astonishment, old man said: "I perceive that surprised Well, natural You had right me mad until I proved myself sane "

"But, Mr Blakelock," , "I really cannot take this gold no right in justice charge so large fee "

"Take it--take it," he answered impatiently; "your fee will amount before well Besides," he added mysteriously, " to secure your friendship that protect me from her," and he pointed his poor, bandaged hand at Marion

My eyes followed his gesture, and I caught the glance that replied-- glance of horror, distrust, despair The beautiful face was distorted into positive ugliness

"It's all true," ; " the demon that her father represents her "

I now rose This domestic tragedy sickened me This treachery of blood against blood was too horrible to witness prescription old man, left directions renewal dressings upon his burns, and, bidding him good night, hastened toward the door

While fumbling dark, crazy landing staircase, hand laid on my arm

"Doctor," whispered voice that I recognized as Marion Blakelock's, "Doctor, any compassion in your heart ? "

" so," I answered shortly, shaking off her hand; her touch filled me with loathing

"Hush ! don't talk so loud any pity in your nature, back, I entreat of you, that gold ingot which my father this evening "

"Great heaven ! " said I, "can it be possible that so fair woman such mercenary, shameless wretch ? "

"Ah ! not-- tell you ! judge me harshly I call God to witness that not what you deem me Some day or other know But," she added, interrupting herself, "the ingot--where ? it My life depends giving it "

"Take it, impostor ! " I cried, placing it in her hand, that closed with horrible eagerness "I never intended it Gold made under the same roof that covers such accursed "

So saying, heedless nervous effort she made to detain me, I stumbled down the stairs and walked hastily home

The next morning, while in my office, smoking my matutinal cigar, and speculating over the singular character acquaintances of last night, the door opened, and Marion Blakelock entered She had the same look of terror that I had observed the evening before, and she panted she running fast

"Father has got out of bed," she gasped out, "and insists on going on alchemy Will it kill him ? "