The Birthmark

           Inthelatterpartofthelastcenturytherelivedamanofscience,aneminentproficientineverybranchofnaturalphilosophy,whonotlongbeforeourstoryopenshadmadeexperienceofaspiritualaffinitymoreattractivethananychemicalone.Hehadlefthislaboratorytothecareofanassistant,clearedhisfinecountenancefromthefurnacesmoke,washedthestainofacidsfromhisfingers,andpersuadedabeautifulwomantobecomehiswife.InthosedayswhenthecomparativelyrecentdiscoveryofelectricityandotherkindredmysteriesofNatureseemedtoopenpathsintotheregionofmiracle,itwasnotunusualfortheloveofsciencetorivaltheloveofwomaninitsdepthandabsorbingenergy.Thehigherintellect,theimagination,thespirit,andeventheheartmightallfindtheircongenialalimentinpursuitswhich,assomeoftheirardentvotariesbelieved,wouldascendfromonestepofpowerfulintelligencetoanother,untilthephilosophershouldlayhishandonthesecretofcreativeforceandperhapsmakenewworldsforhimself.WeknownotwhetherAylmerpossessedthisdegreeoffaithinman’sultimatecontroloverNature.Hehaddevotedhimself,however,toounreservedlytoscientificstudiesevertobeweanedfromthembyanysecondpassion.Hisloveforhisyoungwifemightprovethestrongerofthetwo;butitcouldonlybebyintertwiningitselfwithhisloveofscience,andunitingthestrengthofthelattertohisown.

           Suchaunionaccordinglytookplace,andwasattendedwithtrulyremarkableconsequencesandadeeplyimpressivemoral.