| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Exiles by Honore de Balzac: bestowed on each? Without attempting to penetrate rashly into the
designs of God, ought we not to recognize the fact that by reason of
their general diversity intelligences could be classed in spheres?
From the sphere where the least degree of intelligence gleamed, to the
most translucent souls who could see the road by which to ascend to
God, was there not an ascending scale of spiritual gift? And did not
spirits of the same sphere understand each other like brothers in
soul, in flesh, in mind, and in feeling?"
From this the Doctor went on to unfold the most wonderful theories of
sympathy. He set forth in Biblical language the phenomena of love, of
instinctive repulsion, of strong affinities which transcend the laws
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from An International Episode by Henry James: I can never come back." Then he looked at her a moment and took her hand.
"Goodbye, Mrs. Westgate," he said. "You have been very kind to me."
And with what she thought a strange, sad look in his handsome young face,
he turned away.
She went in, and she found Bessie still writing her letter;
that is, Mrs. Westgate perceived she was sitting at the table with
the pen in her hand and not writing. "Lord Lambeth has been here,"
said the elder lady at last.
Then Bessie got up and showed her a pale, serious face. She bent this face
upon her sister for some time, confessing silently and a little pleading.
"I told him," she said at last, "that we could not go to Branches."
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