Flashes of light passed before Auriol's eyes, and strange noises smote his ears. The furnace breathed forth flames and mephitic vapors; the spiral worm of the alembic became red hot, and seemed filled with molten lead; the skeletons grinned and gibbered; the bald decapitated head opened its eyes, and fixed them with a stony glare, on the young man; while the dead alchemist shook his hand menacingly at him...... A classic, from the great author, Ainsworth.