Yermah’s belief was that gold, silver and the precious stones had but one foundation in nature. They were simply augmentative thought, purified and perfected through the operation of magnetic life. This power was invisible and unattainable under ordinary circumstances, and unknown to all except the alchemist. With him all yellow gems and gold were appropriate to wear for Sunday, either to draw down propitious influences or to avert antagonistic effects. On Monday, pearls and white stones (not diamonds) were worn, because this is the day of the moon, the second power in nature. Tuesday, the day of Mars, claimed rubies and all crystallization of a fiery luster. Wednesday was the day of the turquoise, sapphire and all species of stones which seem to reflect the blue vault of heaven, and to imply the lucent azure of the spiritual atmosphere where the sylphs dwell—those elementals who are always striving to communicate with mortals, because they desire immortality. Thursday demanded amethysts, and richly colored stones of sanguine tint, because the day is correlated to the male divine sacrifice. Friday, Venus’s day, had emeralds and reigned over all green stones. On Saturday, diamonds, signifying the great deep, were worn, because Saturn’s rule is death to the physical, but birth to the spiritual nature. “The first effect abides as long as the thing remains,” said the Dorado to Alcamayn, as they examined and assorted some uncut turquoises brought from the mines in the Cerrillos Mountains, in New Mexico, then a flourishing Toltec settlement. Opals came from Zinapan, pearls from La Paz, emeralds from Peru, and diamonds from Brazil, while the rubies had been lately sent from Montana by Orondo. There were beautiful sapphires from the Caucasus, secured by barter with Kerœcia’s people. “All things material have a proper form,” answered Alcamayn, “and are subject to certain conditions. Gems, being material, derive virtue from a specific shape, and are likewise subject to the influence of the planets.” “I require four stones for my purpose, and will see to it that the symbol engraved has the same quality as the stone itself, in order that its strength may be doubled,” continued Yermah. “To be efficacious, this book must be made by election,” rejoined Alcamayn. “Each stone must be worked at the hour its particular planet’s position is strongest. This will prolong the good aspect forever, unless the stone is broken.” “The sapphire reflects the blue of heaven, and belongs to the Bull,” explained Yermah, critically examining some polished gems, having arrow-head crystals standing out in startling distinctness in the prismatic colors. Sometimes they appeared in clouds, again in fields, shifting their scenes as often as he changed the focus. “This shall be placed in a square of gold.” “The house of the Twins requires an agate, which is the natal stone of the priestess Kerœcia,” observed Alcamayn, handing the Dorado a beautifully marked moss-agate.