Horror | Lecturia

Ambrose Bierce: The Eyes of the Panther

“The Eyes of the Panther” is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, published on October 17, 1897, in the San Francisco Examiner. Jenner Brading and Irene Marlowe are in love, but she stubbornly refuses to marry him. Pressed by Jenner to explain the reason for her refusal, Irene recounts a strange and macabre episode from her family’s past that took place in an isolated cabin in the woods—an experience that left a deep mark on her life and seems to bar her from any marital commitment.

Bram Stoker: Gibbet Hill

“Gibbet Hill” is a short story by Bram Stoker, published on December 17, 1890, in the Daily Express of Dublin. On an autumn day, a traveler explores the hills of Surrey. As he admires the beauty of the place, three figures catch his attention: two girls of exotic appearance, who seem to have come from India, and a fair-haired boy with an angelic smile. After speaking with them, they climb together to the summit of Gibbet Hill, a place of breathtaking views where a cross stands in memory of the execution of a former criminal. Intoxicated by the landscape, the traveler wanders into a wood and falls into a brief sleep. Upon waking, he will witness a disturbing scene.

Edgar Allan Poe: The Man of the Crowd

“The Man of the Crowd” is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, published in December 1840 in Burton’s Gentleman’s Magazine and Atkinson’s Casket. A man observes from the window of a London café the ceaseless flow of people along a bustling avenue. For hours he watches and classifies the passersby according to their appearance and behavior: merchants, clerks, gamblers, beggars, prostitutes. As night falls, his attention is captured by an old man with an extraordinarily enigmatic expression. Driven by an irresistible curiosity, he leaves the café to follow the mysterious figure through the nocturnal streets of London.

Nathaniel Hawthorne: Roger Malvin’s Burial

“Roger Malvin’s Burial” is a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne, first published in 1832 in The Token. Reuben Bourne and Roger Malvin are two men who, after escaping from a bloody battle between settlers and Native Americans, are left seriously wounded. Lost in the vastness of the forest and with no help in sight, Malvin—aware that his condition is terminal—begs Reuben to abandon him in order to save himself. Though he resists, Reuben realizes that setting out in search of aid is the only hope of saving Malvin.

Saki: The Hounds of Fate

In “The Hounds of Fate,” a short story by Saki first published in 1911 in The Chronicles of Clovis, Martin Stoner, a man worn down by despair and exhaustion, wanders aimlessly along a muddy path, believing he is headed toward the sea. The rain drives him to seek shelter in an old manor, where he is received by an elderly man who mistakes him for Tom, the long-absent heir of the house’s mistress, gone for four years. Taking advantage of the misunderstanding, Stoner settles into the manor and enjoys its hospitality. However, he soon discovers that behind the identity he has assumed lies a dark secret whose consequences threaten to overtake him.

Arthur Machen: The Shining Pyramid

“The Shining Pyramid” is a short story by Arthur Machen, first published in May 1895 in The Unknown World. Mr. Vaughan visits his friend Dyson in London to ask for help with a disturbing mystery: near his country house, strange designs have appeared, made with prehistoric arrowheads that rearrange themselves each night to form enigmatic figures. Vaughan fears they may be signals left by thieves interested in his valuable collection of ancient silver. Intrigued by these inexplicable symbols, Dyson decides to accompany Vaughan to his remote property in the Welsh hills to investigate the phenomena and discover who—or what—is creating them.