| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Return of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs: cold blood. A little shiver ran up the Frenchman's spine.
It was fiendish--diabolical. What manner of creature was this
that could stand complacently with two bullets in him, waiting
for the third?
And so De Coude took careful aim this time, but his nerve
was gone, and he made a clean miss. Not once had Tarzan
raised his pistol hand from where it hung beside his leg.
For a moment the two stood looking straight into each
other's eyes. On Tarzan's face was a pathetic expression
of disappointment. On De Coude's a rapidly growing
expression of horror--yes, of terror.
The Return of Tarzan |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from La Grenadiere by Honore de Balzac: when Louis had returned to her side. "That is all your own. Oh me! you
would have been better off if your father----"
"My father," cried the boy, "where is he?"
"He is dead," she said, laying her finger on her lips; "he died to
save my honor and my life."
She looked upwards. If any tears had been left to her, she would have
wept for pain.
"Louis," she continued, "swear to me, as I lie here, that you will
forget all that you have written, all that I have told you."
"Yes, mother."
"Kiss me, dear angel."
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