is that the supernatural is the impossible； and that what is called
supernatural is only a something in the laws of Nature of which we
have been hitherto ignorant。 Therefore； if a ghost rise before me；
I have not the right to say； 〃So； then； the supernatural is
possible；〃 but rather； 〃So； then； the apparition of a ghost is；
contrary to received opinion； within the laws of Nature；that is；
not supernatural。〃
Now； in all that I had hitherto witnessed； and indeed in all the
wonders which the amateurs of mystery in our age record as facts； a
material living agency is always required。 On the Continent you
will find still magicians who assert that they can raise spirits。
Assume for the moment that they assert truly； still the living
material form of the magician is present； and he is the material
agency by which； from some constitutional peculiarities； certain
strange phenomena are represented to your natural senses。
Accept； again； as truthful； the tales of spirit manifestation in
America；musical or other sounds； writings on paper； produced by
no discernible hand； articles of furniture moved without apparent
human agency； or the actual sight and touch of hands； to which no
bodies seem to belong；still there must be found the MEDIUM； or
living being； with constitutional peculiarities capable of
obtaining these signs。 In fine； in all such marvels； supposing
even that there is no imposture； there must be a human being like
ourselves by whom； or through whom； the effects presented to human
beings are produced。 It is so with the now familiar phenomena of
mesmerism or electro…biology； the mind of the person operated on is
affected through a material living agent。 Nor； supposing it true
that a mesmerized patient can respond to the will or passes of a
mesmerizer a hundred miles distant； is the response less occasioned
by a material being； it may be through a material fluidcall it
Electric； call it Odic； call it what you willwhich has the power
of traversing space and passing obstacles； that the material effect
is communicated from one to the other。 Hence； all that I had
hitherto witnessed； or expected to witness； in this strange house；
I believed to be occasioned through some agency or medium as mortal
as myself； and this idea necessarily prevented the awe with which
those who regard as supernatural things that are not within the
ordinary operations of Nature； might have been impressed by the
adventures of that memorable night。
As； then； it was my conjecture that all that was presented； or
would be presented to my senses； must originate in some human being
gifted by constitution with the power so to present them； and
having some motive so to do； I felt an interest in my theory which；
in its way； was rather philosophical than superstitious。 And I can
sincerely say that I was in as tranquil a temper for observation as
any practical experimentalist could be in awaiting the effects of
some rare； though perhaps perilous； chemical combination。 Of
course； the more I kept my mind detached from fancy； the more the
temper fitted for observation would be obtained； and I therefore
riveted eye and thought on the strong daylight sense in the page of
my Macaulay。
I now became aware that something interposed between the page and
the light；the page was overshadowed。 I looked up； and I saw what
I shall find it very difficult； perhaps impossible； to describe。
It was a Darkness shaping itself forth from the air in very
undefined outline。 I cannot say it was of a human form； and yet it
had more resemblance to a human form； or rather shadow； than to
anything else。 As it stood； wholly apart and distinct from the air
and the light around it； its dimensions seemed gigantic； the summit
nearly touching the ceiling。 While I gazed； a feeling of intense
cold seized me。 An iceberg before me could not more have chilled
me； nor could the cold of an iceberg have been more purely
physical。 I feel convinced that it was not the cold caused by
fear。 As I continued to gaze； I thoughtbut this I cannot say
with precisionthat I distinguished two eyes looking down on me
from the height。 One moment I fancied that I distinguished them
clearly； the next they seemed gone； but still two rays of a pale…
blue light frequently shot through the darkness； as from the height
on which I half believed； half doubted； that I had encountered the
eyes。
I strove to speak；my voice utterly failed me； I could only think
to myself； 〃Is this fear？ It is NOT fear！〃 I strove to rise；in
vain； I felt as if weighed down by an irresistible force。 Indeed；
my impression was that of an immense and overwhelming Power opposed
to my volition；that sense of utter inadequacy to cope with a
force beyond man's； which one may feel PHYSICALLY in a storm at
sea； in a conflagration； or when confronting some terrible wild
beast； or rather； perhaps； the shark of the ocean； I felt MORALLY。
Opposed to my will was another will； as far superior to its
strength as storm； fire； and shark are superior in material force
to the force of man。
And now； as this impression grew on me；now came； at last； horror；
horror to a degree that no words can convey。 Still I retained
pride； if not courage； and in my own mind I said； 〃This is horror；
but it is not fear； unless I fear I cannot be harmed； my reason
rejects this thing； it is an illusion；I do not fear。〃 With a
violent effort I succeeded at last in stretching out my hand toward
the weapon on the table； as I did so； on the arm and shoulder I
received a strange shock； and my arm fell to my side powerless。
And now； to add to my horror； the light began slowly to wane from
the candles；they were not； as it were； extinguished； but their
flame seemed very gradually withdrawn； it was the same with the
fire；the light was extracted from the fuel； in a few minutes the
room was in utter darkness。 The dread that came over me； to be
thus in the dark with that dark Thing； whose power was so intensely
felt； brought a reaction of nerve。 In fact； terror had reached
that climax； that either my senses must have deserted me； or I must
have burst through the spell。 I did burst through it。 I found
voice； though the voice was a shriek。 I remember that I broke
forth with words like these； 〃I do not fear； my soul does not
fear〃； and at the same time I found strength to rise。 Still in
that profound gloom I rushed to one of the windows； tore aside the
curtain； flung open the shutters； my first thought wasLIGHT。 And
when I saw the moon high； clear； and calm； I felt a joy that almost
compensated for the previous terror。 There was the moon； there was
also the light from the gas lamps in the deserted slumberous
street。 I turned to look back into the room； the moon penetrated
its shadow very palely and partiallybut still there was light。
The dark Thing； whatever it might be； was gone；except that I
could yet see a dim shadow； which seemed the shadow of that shade；
against the opposite wall。
My eye now rested on the table； and from under the table （which was
without cloth or cover；an old mahogany round table） there rose a
hand； visible as far as the wrist。 It was a hand； seemingly； as
much of flesh and blood as my own； but the hand of an aged person；
lean； wrinkled； small too；a woman's hand。 That hand very softly
closed on the two letters that lay on the table； hand and letters
both vanished。 There then came the same three loud； measured
knocks I had heard at the bed head before this extraordinary drama
had commenced。
As those sounds slowly ceased； I felt the whole room vibrate
sensibly； and at the far end there rose； as from the floor； sparks
or globules like bubbles of light； many colored；green； yellow；
fire…red； azure。 Up and down； to and fro； hither； thither as tiny
Will…o'…the…Wisps； the sparks moved； slow or swift； each at its own
caprice。 A chair （as in the drawing…room below） was now advanced
from the wall without apparent agency； and placed at the opposite
side of the table。 Suddenly； as forth from the chair； there grew a
shape；a woman's shape。 It was distinct as a shape of life；
ghastly as a shape of death。 The face was that of youth； with a
strange； mournful beauty； the throat and shoulders were bare； the
rest of the form in a loose robe of cloudy white。 It began
sleeking its long； yellow hair； which fell over its shoulders； its
eyes were not turned toward me； but to the door； it seemed
listening； watching； waiting。 The shadow of the shade in the
background grew darker； and again I thought I beheld the eyes
gleaming out from the summit of the shadow；eyes fixed upon that
shape。
As if from the door； though it did not open； there grew out another
shape； equally distinct； equally ghastly；a man's shape； a young
man's。 It was in the dress of the last century； or rather in a
likeness of such dress （for both the male shape and the female；
though defined； were evidently unsubstantial； impalpable；
simulacra； phantasms）； and there was something incongruous；
grotesque； yet fearful； in the contrast between the elaborate
finery； the courtly precision of that old…fashioned garb； with its
ruffles and lace and buckles； and the corpselike aspect and
ghostlike stillness of the flitting wearer。 Just as the male shape
approached the female； the dark Shadow started from the wall； all
three for a moment wrapped in darkness。 When the pale light
returned； the two phantoms were as if in the grasp of the Shadow
that towered between them； and there was a blood stain on the
breast of the female； and the phantom male was leaning on its
phantom sword； and blood seemed trickling fast from the ruffles
from the lace； and the darkness of the intermediate Shadow
swallowed them up；they were gone。 And again the bubbles of light
shot； and sailed； and undulated； growing thicker and thicker and
more wildly confused in their movements。
The closet door to the right of the fireplace now opened； and from
the aperture there came the form of an aged woman。 In her hand she
held letters；the very letters over which I had seen THE Hand
close； and behind her I heard a footstep。 She turned round as if
to listen； and then she opened the letters and seemed to rea