| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Case of the Golden Bullet by Grace Isabel Colbron and Augusta Groner: his usual quiet manner, out of which every trace of excitement had
now vanished.
The dull winter sun seemed only to make the gloom of the dark
vestibule more visible. Johann turned up the light, and Horn, who
had visited the Professor several times and knew the situation of
the rooms, went at once to the heavy, carved and iron trimmed door
of the study. He attempted to open the door, but it resisted all
pressure. The heavy key was in the inner side of the big lock with
its medieval iron ornamentation. But the key was turned so that
the lower part of the lock was free, a round opening of unusual size.
Horn made sure of this by holding a lighted match to the door.
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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 The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart: trembling, were peering down, headed by Liddy. I was greeted by
a series of low screams and questions, and I tried to quiet them.
Gertrude had dropped on a chair and sat there limp and shivering.
I went at once across the hall to Halsey's room and knocked; then
I pushed the door open. It was empty; the bed had not been
occupied!
"He must be in Mr. Bailey's room," I said excitedly, and followed
by Liddy, we went there. Like Halsey's, it had not been
occupied! Gertrude was on her feet now, but she leaned against
the door for support.
"They have been killed!" she gasped. Then she caught me by the
 The Circular Staircase |