AURIOL

The Elixir of Life. 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 monstrous sea-fish belched forth fire and smoke, 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.