*Title: The Spectre-Smitten by Samuel Warren
Date Read: 12 October 2009
Available Online?: YES (PDF)
Briefly: A doctor relates the tale of a particular patient, Mr. M, who after witnessing the sight of an apparition in his room is profoundly and detrimentally affected.
Afterthoughts: Wordy and difficult to read at times (the narrative can be quite convoluted), this story turns out to be rather good in the end. The story’s real triumph comes from bearing witness to Mr. M’s descent into madness, and whether triggered by actual ghostly possession or as a consequence of the trauma caused by seeing a ghost, Mr. M’s erratic behaviour provides the biggest chills.
Notable Quote: The first object visible, with sudden distinctness, was a figure sitting in the arm-chair. It was that of a gentleman dressed in dark-coloured clothes, his hands, white as alabaster, closed together over his lap, and the face looking away; but it turned slowly towards M, revealing to him a countenance of a ghastly hue, the features glowing like steel heated to a white heat; and the two eyes turned full towards him, and blazing–absolutely blazing, he described it–with a most horrible lustre.
Rating: 
*Story read as part of my 31 Shots of Shock reading challenge.
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