It had been long known that the air which encircled us was a compound of oxygen and nitrogen gases, in the proportion of twenty-one measures of oxygen, and seventy-nine of nitrogen in every one hundred of the atmosphere.  Oxygen, which was the principle of combustion, and the vehicle of heat, was absolutely necessary to the support of animal life, and was the most powerful and energetic agent in nature.  Nitrogen, on the contrary, was incapable of supporting either animal life or flame.  An unnatural excess of oxygen would result, it had been ascertained in just such an elevation of the animal spirits as we had latterly experienced.  It was the pursuit, the extension of the idea, which had engendered awe.  What would be the result of a total extraction of the nitrogen?  A combustion irresistible, all-devouring, omni-prevalent, immediate; — the entire fulfilment, in all their minute and terrible details, of the fiery and horror-inspiring denunciations of the prophecies of the Holy Book.

Why need I paint, Charmion, the now disenchained frenzy of mankind?  That tenuity in the comet which had previously inspired us with hope, was now the source of the bitterness of despair.  In its impalpable gaseous character we clearly perceived the consummation of Fate.  Meantime a day again passed — bearing away with it the last shadow of Hope.  We gasped in the rapid modification of the air.  The red blood bounded tumultuously through its strict channels.  A furious delirium possessed all men; and, with arms rigidly outstretched towards the threatening heavens, they trembled and shrieked aloud.  But the nucleus of the destroyer was now upon us; — even here in Aidenn, I shudder while I speak.  Let me be brief — brief as the ruin that overwhelmed.  For a moment there was a wild lurid light alone, visiting and penetrating all things.  Then — let us bow down Charmion, before the excessive majesty of the great God! — then, there came a shouting and pervading sound, as if from the mouth itself of HIM; while the whole incumbent mass of ether in which we existed, burst at once into a species of intense flame, for whose surpassing brilliancy and all-fervid heat even the angels in the high Heaven of pure knowledge have no name.  Thus ended all.

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SHADOW —­ A PARABLE

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the Shadow: 

        —­Psalm of David.

YE who read are still among the living; but I who write shall have long since gone my way into the region of shadows.  For indeed strange things shall happen, and secret things be known, and many centuries shall pass away, ere these memorials be seen of men.  And, when seen, there will be some to disbelieve, and some to doubt, and yet a few who will find much to ponder upon in the characters here graven with a stylus of iron.