and depth of your nature； until now。 Nothing shall be concealed。
Know； then； that this Crimson Hand； superficial as it seems； has
clutched its grasp into your being； with a strength of which I had no
previous conception。 I have already administered agents powerful
enough to do aught except to change your entire physical system。 Only
one thing remains to be tried。 If that fail us； we are ruined！〃
〃Why did you hesitate to tell me this？〃 asked she。
〃Because； Georgiana；〃 said Aylmer； in a low voice； 〃there is
danger！〃
〃Danger？ There is but one danger… that this horrible stigma shall
be left upon my cheek！〃 cried Georgiana。 〃Remove it！ remove it！…
whatever be the cost… or we shall both go mad！〃
〃Heaven knows； your words are too true；〃 said Aylmer； sadly。 〃And
now； dearest； return to your boudoir。 In a little while； all will be
tested。〃
He conducted her back； and took leave of her with a solemn
tenderness； which spoke far more than his words how much was now at
stake。 After his departure； Georgiana became wrapt in musings。 She
considered the character of Aylmer； and did it completer justice
than at any previous moment。 Her heart exulted； while it trembled；
at his honorable love； so pure and lofty that it would accept
nothing less than perfection； nor miserably make itself contented with
an earthlier nature than he had dreamed of。 She felt how much more
precious was such a sentiment； than that meaner kind which would
have borne with the imperfection for her sake； and have been guilty of
treason to holy love； by degrading its perfect idea to the level of
the actual。 And； with her whole spirit； she prayed； that； for a single
moment； she might satisfy his highest and deepest conception。 Longer
than one moment； she well knew； it could not be； for his spirit was
ever on the march… ever ascending… and each instant required something
that was beyond the scope of the instant before。
The sound of her husband's footsteps aroused her。 He bore a crystal
goblet； containing a liquor colorless as water； but bright enough to
be the draught of immortality。 Aylmer was pale； but it seemed rather
the consequence of a highly wrought state of mind； and tension of
spirit； than of fear or doubt。
〃The concoction of the draught has been perfect；〃 said he； in
answer to Georgiana's look。 〃Unless all my science have deceived me；
it cannot fail。〃
〃Save on your account； my dearest Aylmer；〃 observed his wife； 〃I
might wish to put off this birthmark of mortality by relinquishing
mortality itself； in preference to any other mode。 Life is but a sad
possession to those who have attained precisely the degree of moral
advancement at which I stand。 Were I weaker and blinder； it might be
happiness。 Were I stronger； it might be endured hopefully。 But； being
what I find myself； methinks I am of all mortals the most fit to die。〃
〃You are fit for heaven without tasting death！〃 replied her
husband。 〃But why do we speak of dying？ The draught cannot fail。
Behold its effect upon this plant！〃
On the window…seat there stood a geranium； diseased with yellow
blotches； which had overspread all its leaves。 Aylmer poured a small
quantity of the liquid upon the soil in which it grew。 In a little
time； when the roots of the plant had taken up the moisture； the
unsightly blotches began to be extinguished in a living verdure。
〃There needed no proof；〃 said Georgiana； quietly。 〃Give me the
goblet。 I joyfully stake all upon your word。〃
〃Drink； then； thou lofty creature！〃 exclaimed Aylmer； with fervid
admiration。 〃There is no taint of imperfection on thy spirit。 Thy
sensible frame； too； shall soon be all perfect！〃
She quaffed the liquid； and returned the goblet to his hand。
〃It is grateful；〃 said she； with a placid smile。 〃Methinks it is
like water from a heavenly fountain； for it contains I know not what
of unobtrusive fragrance and deliciousness。 It allays a feverish
thirst； that had parched me for many days。 Now； dearest； let me sleep。
My earthly senses are closing over my spirit； like the leaves around
the heart of a rose； at sunset。〃
She spoke the last words with a gentle reluctance； as if it
required almost more energy than she could command to pronounce the
faint and lingering syllables。 Scarcely had they loitered through
her lips； ere she was lost in slumber。 Aylmer sat by her side；
watching her aspect with the emotions proper to a man； the whole value
of whose existence was involved in the process now to be tested。
Mingled with this mood； however； was the philosophic investigation；
characteristic of the man of science。 Not the minutest symptom escaped
him。 A heightened flush of the cheek… a slight irregularity of breath…
a quiver of the eyelid… a hardly perceptible tremor through the frame…
such were the details which； as the moments passed； he wrote down in
his folio volume。 Intense thought had set its stamp upon every
previous page of that volume； but the thoughts of years were all
concentrated upon the last。
While thus employed； he failed not to gaze often at the fatal Hand；
and not without a shudder。 Yet once； by a strange and unaccountable
impulse； he pressed it with his lips。 His spirit recoiled； however； in
the very act； and Georgiana； out of the midst of her deep sleep； moved
uneasily and murmured； as if in remonstrance。 Again； Aylmer resumed
his watch。 Nor was it without avail。 The Crimson Hand； which at
first had been strongly visible upon the marble paleness of
Georgiana's cheek now grew more faintly outlined。 She remained not
less pale than ever； but the birthmark； with every breath that came
and went； lost somewhat of its former distinctness。 Its presence had
been awful； its departure was more awful still。 Watch the stain of the
rainbow fading out of the sky； and you will know how that mysterious
symbol passed away。
〃By Heaven； it is well…nigh gone！〃 said Aylmer to himself； in
almost irrepressible ecstasy。 〃I can scarcely trace it now。 Success！
Success！ And now it is like the faintest rose…color。 The slightest
flush of blood across her cheek would overcome it。 But she is so
pale！〃
He drew aside the window…curtain； and suffered the light of natural
day to fall into the room； and rest upon her cheek。 At the same
time； he heard a gross； hoarse chuckle； which he had long known as his
servant Aminadab's expression of delight。
〃Ah； clod！ Ah； earthly mass！〃 cried Aylmer； laughing in a sort of
frenzy。 〃You have served me well！ Master and Spirit… Earth and Heaven…
have both done their part in this！ Laugh； thing of the senses！ You
have earned the right to laugh。〃
These exclamations broke Georgiana's sleep。 She slowly unclosed her
eyes； and gazed into the mirror； which her husband had arranged for
that purpose。 A faint smile flitted over her lips； when she recognized
how barely perceptible was now that Crimson Hand； which had once
blazed forth with such disastrous brilliancy as to scare away all
their happiness。 But then her eyes sought Aylmer's face； with a
trouble and anxiety that he could by no means account for。
〃My poor Aylmer！〃 murmured she。
〃Poor？ Nay； richest！ Happiest！ Most favored！〃 exclaimed he。 〃My
peerless bride； it is successful！ You are perfect！〃
〃My poor Aylmer！〃 she repeated； with a more than human
tenderness。 〃You have aimed loftily！ you have done nobly！ Do not
repent； that； with so high and pure a feeling； you have rejected the
best the earth could offer。 Aylmer… dearest Aylmer； I am dying！〃
Alas； it was too true！ The fatal Hand had grappled with the mystery
of life； and was the bond by which an angelic spirit kept itself in
union with a mortal frame。 As the last crimson tint of the birthmark…
that sole token of human imperfection… faded from her cheek； the
parting breath of the now perfect woman passed into the atmosphere；
and her soul； lingering a moment near her husband； took its heavenward
flight。 Then a hoarse； chuckling laugh was heard again！ Thus ever does
the gross Fatality of Earth exult in its invariable triumph over the
immortal essence； which； in this dim sphere of half…development；
demands the completeness of a higher state。 Yet； had Aylmer reached a
profounder wisdom； he need not thus have flung away the happiness；
which would have woven his mortal life of the self…same texture with
the celestial。 The momentary circumstance was too strong for him； he
failed to look beyond the shadowy scope of Time； and living once for
all in Eternity； to find the perfect Future in the present。
THE END
。