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                                                                   EXHIBIT 24(g)
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that Gail R. Farkas, a member of the Board of
Directors of Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company (the "Company"), whose
signature appears below, constitutes and appoints Barry G. Skolnick and Michael
P. Cogswell, respectively, and each of them, her true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for her and in her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any
and all Registration Statements and Amendments thereto, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, where applicable, and the Securities Act of
1933, respectively, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, for the purpose
of registering any and all variable life and variable annuity separate accounts
(collectively "Separate Accounts"), of the Company that may be established in
connection with the issuance of any and all variable life and variable annuity
contracts funded by such Separate Accounts, granting unto said attorney-in-fact
and agent, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done.
 
Date: February 14, 1996                          /s/ Gail R. Farkas
                                                 ---------------------------
 
State of New Jersey      )
County of Middlesex      )
 
On the 14th day of February, 1996, before me came Gail R. Farkas, Director of
Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company, to me known to be said person and she
signed the above Power of Attorney on behalf of Merrill Lynch Life Insurance
Company.
 
                                            /s/ Colleen Mohan
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Notary Public
 
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