IN THE SECRET SERVICE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7329, 15 February 1902, Page 1

IN THE SECRET SERVICE.

- — ♦ — (By DEREK VANE.) Author of "The Three Daughters of Night," "The Mystery of the Moat House," etc. No. V. THE ELIXIR OF LIFE. [All Rights Resebved.] "I want you to look up an old Russian scientist who is living in a remote Sussex village," Sir Edw,ard said. "He is suspected by his Government of all kinds of queer things, and I should' like to know what he is doing over here." "Do you think 'he is plotting against us?" I asked. ■"I do not know what to think. He is a queer character, "that is certain, and it is just as well to know what he is aibout. He is a very learned man, and devoted to science. He has helped' the Nihilists more than, once by his clever inventions, but I am not in a position to say that he has adopted their principles. His work takes money, and it may have been a question of being hiundsomely paid,; he has the reputation of a miser. If he is really a scientist, pure and Simple, and nothing more, he may go his own way, but that is what; I want you to find out for me." . I went down to Sussex that same night, and I discovered the retreat of the old Russian—but the nest was cold, the bird had flown. Whether he really was a dangerous political person I shall never know, but he bad evidently bad some reason for going in great haste, for his personal belongings, including even some papers, were scattered all over the place. JLne following strange story was one of the documents he left behind him, and it has led me to think that with him science came first, though to satisfy jts demands he may have sold his talents to the highest bidder. The document was (written in a clear, fine hand, and was evidently meant* to be preserved. I took it up carelessly, but I was soon reading the contents with the greatest eagerness. The great ambition of Alchemists of all times has been to discover the unknown, the modern worker in science, in spite of repeated failures, ©till strives, as has predecessors did, to solve th© riddle *bf Life and Death ; to prolong the one andi to conquer the other. la. short, to produce the magic Elixir Vitro. The man who eventually shall l^ara.^s.j^ip^^ul^cr^^jjat be'wcfrlEpped as"a"goa : , "an'dTEiS poW'erwiir' exceed, that of any monarch who has «ver reigned. After years of toil, long days and nights spent over my stills, retorts and other appliance's, in making myself familiar with the hidden knowledge of the Old 1 World and the New, I had at length made a preparation of which I hoped and) expected great things.- Then I looked' round for a suitable subject for experiment. Fate, laughing in her sleeve, put what seemed jusfc what I wanted in my way when I ,had almost begun to despair of finding it. I was walking, one .winter evening up and down outside myvhou&e for exercise, for I had' been sitting at work all day, when, by the light of a crescent moon, I saw something dark 'lying a little ahead of me on tha rough, chalky road. It was an old man, who looked like a tramp judging from his wretched appearance. He was lying face downward, as though he had fallen from exhaustion, and when I turned him over be was quite unconscious. I felt his pulse : it was beating faintly, but probably the cold and) exposure would have stilled it before morning had I left him lying there. The day came when I wished' that I had. As I stood looking down on him, the thought of my Elixir came to me. It was never long absent from my mind. I thrilled' at what it suggested and bent over him, trembling with eagerness. Here, surely, wiys the very subject I required ! A piece of human wreckage, without a doubt, who had no one to trouble about him, or he would not be lying out on the moors to die of neglect. I might safely take him ; was he not mine? Mine by the right of rescue. If he lived he owed! it tome; therefore, I had the first claim on his life. It might appear to 'be taking an unfair advantage of an unconscious man, but why should he object? Was I not offering him youth and health in exchange for misery and decay? I looked round cautiously, but there was little danger of my being seen in this lonely spot; not a sound broke the silence. I took the unconscious figure under the arms and dragged it elowly and laboriously to the house. He must have been a fine man in his prime ; so much the better for my purpose. My old servant had gone to bed, and no noise disturbed her slumbers, or she might have wondered at the flop-flop, on the stairs, as I panted) up to the tower-room, dragging my burden after me. I laid it at full length on the couch-, face upward, and- then I dropped exhausted into a chair, but my eyes never left the motionless form. I could not have had a better subject for my operation ; the condition was almost pei'fect: If any Elixir animated this nearly lifeless clay, flushed that withered cheek with youth and health, gave fresh strength to those shrunken limbs, surely it would be putting it to the severest test? The man was not only old, but practically dying ; there were signs of exhausted nature everywhere. Even if he could be brought round for a time by natural means', unless something else intervened, the end was not far off. I had everything in readiness for the experiment, and as soon as I .had recovered my strength and composure, I prepared my patient for the ordeal. I took the paial containing tho magio liquid out of a secret drawer and l held it up to the light. Not a fleck defiled its marvellous purity ; it shone like molten silver. Its strength was immense, which was fortunate, as it was almost priceless in value. At present, at all events, there was no danger of it becoming common ; it would be only a privileged few who wo\ild be able to afford to use it. Length of years would be purchased at a gi'eat price. I roused the sick man to consciousness— the warmth of the room had made him open his eyes— and then I poured the Elixir into a glass and gave it him to drink. I steadied his hand as he raised i* to his lips, for I feared lest he should spill a drop ; I had no more. He had not fully recovered his senses and he gazed round with vacant eyes, emptying the glass mechanically. I replaced it on the table and sat down to watch him, my heart beatiDg as it had not beat for years. Was I to stand out for all ages as a won-

der figure j a man with the gift of a- god ? Was it possible that I should revolutionise the world — the whole of humanity? Or — or was this to be another failure added to the many which had broken the hearts and frenzied the brains of my brethren of til times? My eyes were glued to his face, and I held my breath, lest I should miss the first murmur that would tell me whether it was life or — death. -For if my mixture could not fan the spark of life in that feeble form into a flame, it would extinguish it altogether. Then — oh marvel of marvels! — slowly I saw something at work under the grey skin, making it fair and soft, smoothing out the wrinkles, giving firmness and roundness to what was loose and worn ; the limbs filled out, and even in repose suggested the elasticity of youth. From head to foot age dropped away like a' garment, leaving a new creation. Then, last of all, the eyes unclosed 1 . I had scarcely noticed them when the face^was old ; now that it was young I was almost overwhelmed by. their gaze. They were so bright and dazzling • so alive. It was almost like looking into the sun. They were the eyes of triumphant youth— l had nearly said of triumphant evil. There was not a trace in them of the innocence or ignorance of youth, they were young only by their fire and daring, and the absence of any touch of sorrow or regret such as age ineyitably brings. It was not a pleasant mixture, the brilliance of youth united with the knowledge and experience of old age; that was the oppression in the dark eyes that were gazing half mockingly into mine. And I was conscious that it was . the' " knowledge and experience " of a life that had been evil beyond - the ordinary wickedness of man. For a moment, struck by the baleful light that shone from his eyes and met mine like a blow, I forgot to exult in my success ; I did not realise my triumph. Then, all at once, it rushed over me; I knew what I had done — I saw wealth and honour waiting for me and — best of all—, long years in which to increase my knowledge; The great secret was mine; I had reached the goal so many had struggled in vain to win. ! * ' • ' ; . . , I stood up and cried aloud -in my excitement; I staggered up and down the- room, ! clasping and unclasping my hands, murmuring broken sentences aloud half mad with. joy. Then, suddenly, I turned towards the couch, as though someone had called me. My patient was watching me with a curious, mocking smile. That look was like a cold haiM* on my heart; it chilled all my enthusiasm. I, who had stood close to the Magic Circle without fear, holding parley with what was on the other side, felt something now, face to face 1 with this thing of my own creating, that was almost like 'dread. I controlled myself : in a moment, and went up to the couch. ; Perhaps I had rejoiced too soon. I should have waited to see whether this rejuvenes- • cence was likely to endure. I looked at , him closely, my fingers on his wrist, J where the pulse beat full and strong. . " You have been ill," I said, addressing the motionless figure, which only returned . my gaze, as though it could read my heart ' and soul, and said not a word. "Are you j feeling better?" Then at last the man spoke. "I am. tired, that is alt," foe said in a rich, musical voice. "And it amused me : ita..watchivyjsu^ matter ?".„, . I had no intention of attempting to explain my experiment to him, so I ignored his remark. " You. must be hungry," I said,, and I fetched food and wine, and set them on- the table. .1 watched him' curiously as he got : up. He moved his limbs with" a slow, ; easy grace, as of one who rouses himself from slumber, and when, he stood erect I ; marvelled at the beauty of his form and ; face. He seemed to palpitate with life ; from head; to foot. He had 1 the appearance of a man in his prime, with every nerve and muscle in perfect working order. But his face was a light and a fire that I had never seen in. a man's face before; it was something superhuman. .If on evil spirit were caged in a covenjrig of flesh, it might iook as this man did. He did not eat much, but he finished the bottle of Burgundy, which ihe evidently drank with relish. The generous wine seemed to accentuate ibis exuberant vitality, • and from time to time he burst into snatches of song — the music-hall refrains of forty years ago — into strange, discordant laughter; but he rarely spoke. He had displayed no curiosity ; he seemed to take everything for granted. "You have, "not told' me your name?" I said presently, studying his face intently. "My name*?" He looked puzzled. " Bah -!' I had forgotten. What- does it matter? Call me what you like." He threw himself down on the couch, and in a little while he was fast asleep, with the sound, quiet slurofoer of youth; free of restless tossing or any sign of uneasiness. He made a fine picture, but devoid of anything noble or inspiring. It was the face of a handsome animal ; there was little mind in it ; still less soul. One day passed and then- another, andi the success of my experiment seemed established beyond a doubt. There was no sign of decay : no hint of weakness. From- the . crown of his head to the sole of his foot I could find no blemish in hdm. So much for his outward appearance. As to the inner man, that was a different matter. I had watched him closely for two days, days in which he had developed rapidly before my eyes, and I was forced to the conclusion that, for knowledge of evil, for instinctive lusb of all that was vile, and' depraved, I had never met his equal. I bad rejuvenated the body, I could not rejuvenate the spirit. That was old in years and vice, and utterly without conscience and shame. This discovery was a great shock to me. Somehow I had never considered this side of the question. I bad been too busily engaged with the body to take thought for the mind. Now I began to see how. terrible may be the power of the accumulated knowledge and evil of years when given fresh life in a young body. That is what made this man different to other men. His brain, too, was the brain of age — if it hadi- not always been feeble— his intellect dull and slow; the animal side of his nature was fully developed, with no heart or mind to keep it in check. Frankenstein's Monster had no such horror as this. My Elixir Vitsa was only half ,<a success. To make length of years* desirable in most cases, the mind must be newly created as well as the body. Meanwhile, I had this existence on my hatids. Fortunately my will was strong enough as yet to control (him ; he might snarl and show his teeth, but at a' look from he he would slink away like a whipped cur, though, the next hour it would all happen over again. I was his master yet, but how long should I "be so? I was no match ■ tfor him physically ; it was only the greater mind that swayedi tihe lower. Perhaps, being my creation, ihe was in a way my < creature, .and gave me something: of a dog's : obedience. But he was a vicious 'brute, not to be trusted a moment when my eve was : off him. At any instant, if I gave !him the chance, he might turn and rend me. ' ; I could discover nothing about him, not . even his name. There had been* no papers on him, or anything to betray his identity, . a,nd he either could not or would not give . me the slightest in formation. Only from ] his manner of speaking and from, his habits ', and ways I inferred 1 that he had been* born and bred' in the upper classes, and I im- ' agined that he had reduced himself to the ; condition in wShic'h I found .him' by a long j course of dissipation, if not of crime. I think his memory was to a great extent • ai blank, though, as a result of his former

existence, his every thought and act werft instinctively evil. The life I had renewed for him would' be merely a continuance oi ' ■what it had beea when, (he fell senseless at my door, only far worse, by reason of the fresh, youth and vigour Ox© could put in it. I did not wish, anyone in the village to see him, and I had kept him shut up for two days, only leaving the house with Mm at night, when he roamed over- the desolate moors like a young animal set at liberty, and I followed, faint and exhausted, hn.il not daring to let him out of my sight. Then he grew more fierce and restless, and the strain, on my physical strength was almost more than, I could bear. Something must . be done ; •■ I could mot go on like tohMr. I lay awake all one night thinking, and by morning I had made up my mind. We would' go to London. In the great city I might be able to loose the horrible incubus I Jhad rashly fastened! oil my life; dhance might rid me of •' (him without . any activa assistance on my.^part. Than. I could return to my solitude, and when I tad prepared a fresh supply of the Elixir, I would announce my discovery to- the world. I hired a small furnished house in Edg* ware Road, close -to the MaiWe Arch, and I established- myself there with, my companion. I hinted: that he was not very strong in his intellect, which, wouldf account for his bursts of noisy merriment and' other eccentricities, relics of the latfcen end of his old life, when he must jhave • fallen very low. He had been quite willing to fall in with, my plans, and as I had engaged a compartment to ourselves in tiha train, we had been scarcely seen together until we reachedl London.; Then, partly from cariosity— for he interested me still as an experiment— and partly from, fear, I kept him close to my side at first. The evening we arrived I took him into the brilliantly-lighted streets of the West End. I shall never forget -his face. Fortunately, he was too overwhelmed to s«y much, or to make himself conspicuous, but the light. in this eyes was that of an exile who looks on home again. He seemed to recognise things instinctively; no doubt all this had been familiar to him long ago. He revelled in the noise, the glare, in all the wealth and profusion, in all the dirt and degradation, of <bhe London, streets. No sight was too sordid to interest him, no misery too great to move foam to brutal laughter. He mixed in the crowd like at fiend, rejoicing in everytihing evil. In a few days I gathered) confidence. I let him go out alone when and where he would. I had! come away in the hope of shaking him off ; I must not lose any chance through, foolish nervousness. I could not be made responsible for ihn'm in any way. But, though ihe might be absent all day ainct until late into the night, he always returned before morning. I would lie awake listening, hoping that tihis tinw he Chad gone fdy good,' but, sooner or later, I would hear his hateful step on the etadrs. The very sight of him was becoming repellant ,Jo me, and we rarely exchanged a word. I wondered why ihe came back so persistently, whether be saw that I was eager to be rid of him, and so — full, as ha was, of a mocking malice — he clung tba closer? Or whether, where I was, represented home to him? It might be that tba part I had played towards hdm created a bond between, us, to which, he unconsciously yielded. I hesitated at taking the last step, ati making my own escape and deliberately de« sertangihini^ /Bead^ 1 |^^an unconilortable prfesentdment that fie would track ma out .wherever I weiit. Matters were in ■ '■ this state when, onenight he returned earlier than usual. Ha opened the door noisily, lurched across the room, and flung himself down in a chair. I looked up. Had he been drinking? Ifc. was no uncommon* tihrngr for Mm to come home in a state of wild exhilaration, though I had! never known him to lose control ot himself. It seemed as though his magnificent strength could cope with any excess. I met his eyes fixed on me with a lowering, evil look ; the look of a creature who hates yrt fears. . I gazed back at him steadily. Thera seemed something in his face which was new to me; the eyes were dnjl, the expression -heavy and brooding. As a rule* his potations had; tihe effect of increasing his vitality; to-night they must have acted in the contrary direction. There was ao life or animation in face or figure. But for the first time his gaze did not ' fall before mine. I felt a little uncomfortable. It' was only my mental force that could control him; if he could defy that I was completely at his mercy. The air in. the room grew oppressive ; I felt my heart beating quicker. I could keep siienca no longer. I betrayed my weakness, I spoke. , "Is anything the matter?" I asked, keeping my eye 3 fixed on him. He made no reply. He did not even seem to hear me. The stealthy look in hia face never changed. But, as I watched, ha drew gradually and almost imperceptibly closer to me. Whaife thought had beea growing up in his slow mmd — what intention lurked behind those brooding eyes? The wild beast lust to' fight and kill? I had no weapon within reach; I could aot move ; if I averted my gaze for a moment he might spring at me. So we sat, facing each other. He was like a savage animal, newly caged, who is only prevented by the iron bars from leaping on his keeper. My will-power kept him off yet ; would he break it down? My pulses were throbbing in my ear* now ; I seemed to be looking at him through a mist. I could not cry for help^ my tongue was glued to my mouth. Perhaps my gaze faltered or lost some of its power, and in an instant he had sprung atl me. It was the spring of a tiger. I was like a reed in his grasp. His hands were about my throat; pressing the life out of me ; I could only look up, helpless, into the awful, triumphant face. Then, suddenly, as I gazed, feeling that every Moment must be my last, there came a horrible change. In a flash the light had died out of the eyes, a sickly pallor crept over the flushed face, the strong hand* dropped from my throat, slack and heavy* and he staggered away, falling sideways into a chair. I was too exhausted to move or call foi assistance. I could only watch him fearfully. And as I looked there came a s t:1". more awful change. His limbs withered ' • the limbs of an old man, and his face gi yellow and aged and worn. What ! been the form and face of a young mar. his prime now showed every sign of nile decay. For a minute he sat thus, ' though turned to stone, then his head fell back sharply. He was dead. And he had become again the wretched outcast I had found on the moors.