The glare of the flame spread, luminous and crimson, over the dark and rugged ground on which they stood, and drew an innumerable variety of shadows from crag and hollow.

An oppressive and sulphureous exhalation served to increase the gloomy and sublime terror of the place.

But on turning from the mountain, and towards the distant and unseen ocean, the contrast was wonderfully great: the heavens serene and blue, the stars still and calm as the eyes of Divine Love.

It was as if the realms of the opposing principles of Evil and Good were brought in one view before the gaze of man! Glyndon--the enthusiast, the poet, the artist, the dreamer--was enchained and entranced by emotions vague and undefinable, half of delight and half of pain.

Leaning on the shoulder of his friend, he gazed around him, and heard, with deepening awe, the rumbling of the earth below, the wheels and voices of the Ministry of Nature in her darkest and most inscrutable recess.