| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Tales of the Klondyke by Jack London: traditions and her days; so she regarded life stoically, and human
sacrifice as part of the natural order. The powers which ruled
the day-light and the dark, the flood and the frost, the bursting
of the bud and the withering of the leaf, were angry and in need
of propitiation. This they exacted in many ways,--death in the
bad water, through the treacherous ice-crust, by the grip of the
grizzly, or a wasting sickness which fell upon a man in his own
lodge till he coughed, and the life of his lungs went out through
his mouth and nostrils. Likewise did the powers receive
sacrifice. It was all one. And the witch doctor was versed in
the thoughts of the powers and chose unerringly. It was very
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Recruit by Honore de Balzac: interests of your heart."
At these words Madame de Dey looked at the old man with a wild and
bewildered air, that made him shudder.
"Come," she said, taking him by the hand and leading him into her
bedroom. After assuring herself that they were quite alone, she drew
from her bosom a soiled and crumpled letter.
"Read that," she said, making a violent effort to say the words.
She fell into a chair, seemingly exhausted. While the old man searched
for his spectacles and rubbed their glasses, she raised her eyes to
him, and seemed to study him with curiosity; then she said in an
altered voice, and very softly,--
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