Life-Line

“In simple language I have invented a technique to tell how long a man will live. I can give you advance billing of the Angel of Death. I can tell you when the Black Camel will kneel at your door. In five minutes time with my apparatus I can tell any of you how many grains of sand are still left in your hourglass.”

How exciting! This was Heinlein's first story, the very beginning of the Grand Master prolific career.

Dr. Pinero builds a chronovitameter, a machine that can predict the exact time of death from one person's life line. What would you think are the consequences of that kind of technology? See for yourself. Great story.