A. Merritt's Fantasy Magazine, October 1950 — page 26: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE ELIXIR OF HATE then, extending it toward Dennison, said nore quietly : “Within this vial rests the secret of all the age. Can you believe it? Does it not seem manifestly impossible? Do you not think me vainly boastful in making the assertion? Yet it is true, and [I have proved it!” The American Vecchio continued: “Where Roger Bacon and Geber failed with their gold dissolved in hydrochloric acid, I have succeeded. Where Aquinas and Lully got only disappointment with their aqua vitae ardens, I have achieved success. They were all working on mis- taken lines, yet in them, too, inhered a grain of truth. Crookes, Lodge and Bec- querel, and all that school, with their surmises as to radio-activities and the transmutation of elements, have come near the facts. I give them credit. Yet even so, I, combining all, have won the prize. And here it is at last—the truth and only Aqua Regia, the Alkahest!” “You—you mean,” stammered Den- nison, “that you've really got the—Elixir of Life in—in that flask ?”’ “Nothing else!” replied the aged doc- tor. “‘Here I have it, fast prisoned. There is but an ounce and a half, true; and so far I have been unable to create any more of the base on which this solution 1s formed. To be frank with you, a little luck entered into my final result, a still elusive reaction. Were this destroyed I am not positive that I could ever manufacture any more. But so long as I still keep this I can increase the quantity by slow, elabo- rate distillations. So you perceive its value, this thing which you are rashly begeing for?” Dennison nodded. made no answer. II 66W/7 eS,” answered he hoarsely. “It 1s life 1" “Life itself,’’ assented Il Vecchio, hold- ing up the vial. “Life, in a few = scant drops. And it is mine! Like Faustus, I know the mystery. But unlike him, I have not been obliged to barter my soul away for it. At least, not yet! No, I have only had to follow some twelve thou- sand experiments to an arduous conclu- sion, by strict scientific methods. The re- sult has justified the inhuman labor. See, osts less Lasts longer Shaves bet PENSE as PROVE IT YOURSELF AT OU PAL ny kage of PALS. Use ee ati, oat if you don’tagree! e guna i = wad buy... more shaves, parbe ns se lowest cost: return better shaves. , rt the dispensé (if your dealer can us his name ae enclose pa nte blades w? ) We'll reimburse dealer pal Blade CO. ¢ supply YOU" dress. Order tyP® yment. {nc., Fit your injector razor — << (C(O)INN 6)(0)©) (C “S (C(O)