The Supernatural in Romantic Fiction

destroy its original. A friendly magician, however, saves the husband. This story in its chief details reappears as the ' Leech of Folkstone,' in the ' Ingoldsby Legends.' MAGIC YOUTH AND LIFE. A NOVEL by Alexandre Dumas tells how a very old man, on the verge of death, has collected all the materials for the elixir of life, except the life- blood of a virgin, which is necessary for the completion of the life-renewing potion. He has the barbarity to slaughter a young girl for the purpose, but discovers that she is not a virgin. As he has not the time or opportunity to sacrifice a fresh victim, he himself deservedly perishes. Faust changes from an old to a young man by drinking an elixir. Ogier the Dane recovers his youth through the agency of Morgana la Faye. Huonof Bordeaux discovers the fountain of youth. Ponce de Leon, a real historical personage, in more modern times attempted to make the same discovery. The water was said to be in Bimini, an island as fabulous as the water. It is perhaps not very surprising that Ponce de Leon was unsuccessful. Classical fable tells us of Medea's restoration of Eson to youth, and also of the trick she played Pelias. There is a Russian folk-story essentially identical with this fable. In a Hungarian story the dead are sprinkled with the water of life, and revive. In a story by Straparola the eyes of a girl are put out; but her fairy sister applies magical herbs to the sockets, and eyes and eyesight are restored. In a North Germ... --This text refers to the Paperback edition.