| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Light of Western Stars by Zane Grey: her back with hands of iron. She had never known a man could be
so strong. And then it was the man's coolly smiling face, the
paralyzing strangeness of his manner, more than his strength,
that weakened Madeline until she sank trembling against the
bench.
"What--do you--mean?" she panted.
"Dearie, ease up a little on the bridle," he replied, gaily.
Madeline thought she must be dreaming. She could not think
clearly. It had all been too swift, too terrible for her to
grasp. Yet she not only saw this man, but also felt his powerful
presence. And the shaking priest, the haze of blue smoke, the
The Light of Western Stars |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from In the Cage by Henry James: with stopgaps, like their own, all gone, had, across the sordid
landing on which the opposite doors of the pair of scared miseries
opened and to which they were bewilderedly bolted, borrowed coals
and umbrellas that were repaid in potatoes and postage-stamps. It
had been a questionable help, at that time, to ladies submerged,
floundering, panting, swimming for their lives, that they were
ladies; but such an advantage could come up again in proportion as
others vanished, and it had grown very great by the time it was the
only ghost of one they possessed. They had literally watched it
take to itself a portion of the substance of each that had
departed; and it became prodigious now, when they could talk of it
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Dreams by Olive Schreiner: They do not know that what walks beside them still is the Joy grown older.
The grave, sweet, tender thing--warm in the coldest snows, brave in the
dreariest deserts--its name is Sympathy; it is the Perfect Love."
South Africa.
II. THE HUNTER.
In certain valleys there was a hunter. Day by day he went to hunt for
wild-fowl in the woods; and it chanced that once he stood on the shores of
a large lake. While he stood waiting in the rushes for the coming of the
birds, a great shadow fell on him, and in the water he saw a reflection.
He looked up to the sky; but the thing was gone. Then a burning desire
came over him to see once again that reflection in the water, and all day
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The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from Collection of Antiquities by Honore de Balzac: "Yesterday."
"Have any steps been taken since the warrant of arrest was issued?"
"I believe so."
"I have come to treat with you."
"Justice must take its course, nothing can stop it, the arrest has
been made."
"Never mind that, I am at your orders, at your feet." The old man
knelt before du Croisier, and stretched out his hands entreatingly.
"What do you want? Our lands, our castle? Take all; withdraw the
charge; leave us nothing but life and honor. And over and besides all
this, I will be your servant; command and I will obey."
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