This compelling novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne tells the story of Septimius Felton, a young man who becomes obsessed with the idea of finding the elixir of life. As he embarks on a quest to discover the secret to immortality, Septimius encounters a cast of characters who test his faith, his sanity, and his commitment to his quest. With Hawthorne's characteristic insight into the human psyche, this book is a powerful exploration of the search for meaning and purpose in life. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.