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the kingdom of the material world . Therefore , my son , fulfil thy destiny ! Thou canst not combat against fate . " The cavalier did not reply to these observations , but abruptly said , " thou hast shown mc what thou termest the elixir of life . 1 should now like to see thee transmute base metal into gold . "

" Ujy wish shall be gratified , was theanswer ; "butI may tell thee that , at present , thc cost of the materials of transmutation far exceeds the value of the results . " The alchemist , from the cabinet already mentioned , brought forth a small velvet bag and from it he produced a greyish-looking piece of stone . His next proceeding was to procure a crucible , into whioh he placed some lead .

"Art thou satisfied , " said he , " that this is a portion of worthless metal ? "

"I am , " assented the cavalier . Paracelsus thereupon melted the lead within the vessel by plunging the latter into the lire . He then scraped a few grains from the aforesaid stone and put them in a waxen-looking iingent , which he moulded into the form of a ball . When the'lead was in a molten

statehe threw thecompound into the crucible , and stirred the same with an iron rod . The mixture seethed and gave forth a hissing sound for a few seconds . The operator having emptied the contents of the vessel into a chafing dish , observed " within fifteen minutes that hall ' ounce of lead will be precious metal . "

His visitor waited the specified time , and marvelled greatly when he saw the transmutation that had taken place , for , as predicted by the alchemist , the lead had become gold . " Thou art indeed a clever man , " remarked the cavalier . " Thou seemest to know everything . "

' My knowledge is but as a grain of saud on the seashore compared with that possessed by the old philosophers , " modestly said Paracelsus . " Alas ! for modern science , their great labours are irretrievably lost . Tradition has it that the ancient mysteries and scientific discoveries of the Assyrians , Chaldeans , the Magi , the Egyptians and others , written on papyrus , parchment , and vellum ,

bound in scrolls were deposited in the great library of Alexandria . Those priceless treasures , garnered from all the then civilised countries of the world , as thou doubtless , knowest , were ruthlessly destroyed by lire by barbarians in the 7 th century . Before thou leavest my humble dwelling , " he added , " may I ask thee to ascend a small tower that I have had erected , wherewith to study at mine ease the heavenly bodies ? "

The visitor having assented , the old man conducted him by a spu-al staircase to the summit of a tower , having an altitude of about 100 feet from the level of the street . It was a glorious night , almost cloudless . The great cit y , with its numerous churches aud lofty public buildings , in Luna ' s silvery beams , looked exceedingly picturesque . Permitting his companion to ^ gar-re awhile at the scene , the astronomer swept the firmament with a telescope . Suddenly he remarked ;

" Dost ; thou see those two clouds in the east , Jone large and one small , apparently a great distance apurt ?"' "J do , " was the reply . " Perchance , if I were to try aud succeed iu bringing those clouds togethex * , thou wouldst set me down as a sorcerer '*' " remarked Paracelsus .

" Thou hast shown me so many marvels to-night , good sir , ' returned thc cavalier , " that 1 am a sceptic no longer iu thy professions . " The sage then fixed his bright eyes ou the clouds , and slowl y waved one hand from ri ght to left many times . Strange as it may appear , the smaller cloud gradually drew towards the larger one aud became merged with it .

"By what means dost thou claim to have accomplished that feat Y " asked the gentleman . " Simply by force of will , and the magnetism that is in my poor frame , " answered his companion . "Did you know Dr . John Dec !' ' " presently enquired the cavalier .

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" very well , indeed . I was a pupil of his . Many a time at the turn of the tide have I taken boat up the river aud visited him at his residence in Mortlake . It chanced one clay that good Queen Bess came to consult him , and that without warning . In his haste he concealed mc behind a bookcase , from which place I ! heard many secret matters intended for his ear alone . If her Grace had divined that there was a third party within hearing , it might have cost this poor wi ght his head . "

" Amongst thy other arts , canst thou east nativities Y" enquired the cavalier . " That can I , " was the ready reply . " If thou wilt forward me the date and exact time of thy birth , I will furnish thee with thy horoscope . But I fear me from what I have divined to-night that the result of my labours will please thee but little . I augur that at the time of th y biith , the eighth and twelfth houses or divisions were governed by two powerful and malignant lords . "

" Those terms are foreign to me , remarked the other , shrugging his shoulders . " I have not studied thine art . " " I cannot explain to thee fully what I mean , " continued the philosopher , " it would take too much time . Suffice it to say , that

there are twelve divisions in the celestial sphere , as planned by the astrologers ; the eighth refers to death , and the twelfth to foes . To each house is assigned one of the heavenly bodies , and the latter technically are called ' lords . " Bnt enough of this , the air grows chilly , let us descend . "

CHAPTER II . Just as they were about lo leave the roof of the tower , loud laughter , mingled with oaths , and the clashing of swords sounded in the still night air . " Some brawl over a drinking or gambling bout , " said Paracelsus . " You tavern is a terror and a nuisance to the

lawabiding citizen . It surprises me that his worship the Alderman of the Ward has not interfered . Ben Jonson professes to decry the house when hc says : ' Your Three Cranes , Mitre aud Mermaid , men Not a corn of trite salt , not a grain of right mustard amongst them all . ' I warrant that he is to bc found at the present time at one of those hostels besot £ hig'his fine intellect with liquor , or muddling his clever brains with the fumes of tobacco . "

" Every mail in his humour , " quoted the cavalier , smiling . "A merry and apt conceit of thine , good sir , " laughingl y returned his companion . " That is a good instrument thou hast there , " casually remarked the unknown . " Pray let me examine it . "

"Yea , it is a fine specimen of mechanism . It has a powerful range , " asserted thc sage . " It cost me many broad pieces . It was made for me by the great astronomer , Galileo , and it bears his name . It contains an ingenious arrangement by which I can also discern objects clearly vi § ien they are but a few score yards away . I often iimuse myself witjh it by looking at the people on the river , and in the busy streets . "

The cavalier for a lime , with the assistance of his companion , gratified his curiosity by viewing the firmament , and the objects on the bridge . Suddenly a brilliant meteor or aerolite fell from thc heavens and apparently struck St . Paul ' s . " An omen of evil , " mysteriousl y said the astrologer . " For three consecutive nights have J witnessed the fall of a similar meteoric body . "

" What thiukest thou it portends ? " asked his companion , impressed b y his manner . " The destruction of the ancient cathedral and city by fire , " slowly replied the other . " 1 predict , that ere many decades have passed , nearly all the churches , stately edifices and houses north of yon smiling river , will be but dust and ashes . "

" May thy prognostication prove false . It seemeth sad that so fair , prosperous and pleasant a capital , as it now appears , should fall an easy prey to the fiery element , ancl become but a dreary wilderness . Heaven preserve it from such a doom ! "

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CHRISTIAN*COMMUNITY, INSTITUTED BY THE HUGUENOTS , 1685 . President-Sin GEORGE WILLIAMS . I Vioe-President-THK EARL Of ABERDEEN , K . G . i Treasurer- !*' . A . BEVAN , ESQ . Bankers-MESSRS . BARCLAY , BEVAN & CO ., 31 , LOMBARD STREET , E . C , AND 1 , l'ALL MALL EAST , S . W . For Visiting and Preaching the Gospel in Workhouses and other places . WHE province of this Society is to preach the Gospel , and in other ways relieve two classes ; those who cannot , and those who will not , attend the ordinary places of worship . The work of preaching and visitation is carried on by over 450 Voluntary Workers of both sexes , whogive their time gratis . 18 , 123 Free Teas and Breakfasts , Cocoa Suppers . 15 , 000 Workhouse Inmates visited every week in 2 , 118 Childreu and Adults taken for a Day into the Country . 23 Workhouses , Infirmaries , and Casual Wards . 540 Sent away * for a week . 1 , 350 Lodging-house People visited every week in S pitalfields , 10 , 000 Workhouse people hail buns and oranges , and an Evening ' s Canning Town , Poplar , Borough , and Hastings . Entertainment , at Christmas . 9 Mission Halls are now supported . 1 Home for Working Girls , from which 3 , 116 Services held last year in these Halls . 35 Supplied with situations , trained for service , aud 3 , 680 Homeless MeiireeeivediiiAll-nightShelterandBreakfasted . 3 , 674 Young Women attended the Classes and Library . 1 , 940 Bread , Lodging , and Coal Tickets given away . 21 Open-Air Stations were sustained . 15 , 000 Dinners to Children . 297 , 555 Tracts were distributed . Income £ 2 , 876 . Contributions or Donations ( N . B . Periodicals and Tracts arc most useful , ancl may bc sent to the Secretary ) can bc paid into thc Bank , to the Treasurer , or will bc very gratefully received by the Secretary , Mr . JAMES-ATKINSON , Office , 28 , Enfield Road , Kingslaua , •N " -