I've never used PS Elements but I can't believe it doesn't have a 'Levels' control, especially as there are tutorials about this very thing on the Web:
http://www.photoshopessentials.com/p...ts/tone-color/
http://www.photoshopessentials.com/p...ts/tone-color/
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/Photosho...0E0A1F2DE.html
There's no need to put up with the clunky, frustrating and behind-the-times MS platform to get the job done. (Dig! Dig!)