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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flame seemed very gradually withdrawn； it was the same with the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 read； and
over her shoulder I saw a livid face； the face as of a man long
drowned；bloated； bleached； seaweed tangled in its dripping hair；
and at her feet lay a form as of a corpse； and beside the corpse
there cowered a child； a miserable； squalid child； with famine in
its cheeks and fear in its eyes。 And as I looked in the old
woman's face； the wrinkles and lines vanished； and it became a face
of youth；hard…eyed； stony； but still youth； and the Shadow darted
forth； and darkened over these phantoms as it had darkened over the
last。
Nothing now was left but the Shadow； and on that my eyes were
intently fixed； till again eyes grew out of the Shadow；malignant；
serpent eyes。 And the bubbles of light again rose and fell； and in
their disordered； irregular； turbulent maze； mingled with the wan
moonlight。 And now from these globules themselves； as