Introduction. 22 
“with these false disciples who hold that 
our divine Science has no other end but that 
of making gold and silver. True Alchymy 
has but one aim and object,—to extract the 
quintessence and to prepare Arcana tinctures 
and elixirs which may restore to man the 
health and soundness he has lost.” 
With these words the great Physician and 
Alchymist departed. I looked up,—Cupid, 
too, had flown; still his “ glittering eyes” 
seemed to hold me. In a moment my 
thoughts were again concentrated on the 
-crucible: z¢ was too late, the opportunity 
which I had so long desired had come, I 
had failed to seize it, and my dream of being 
the discoverer of the ‘‘ Philosopher’s Stone” 
had melted away into thin air. 
Before, however, I go further in my narra- 
tion, I will venture to place before the 
reader a curious passage from an early Black- 
letter Book in my possession, believing it to 
be of some value as touching on my great 
theme. 
