The narrative follows a medical jurist who, alongside his friend, is drawn into a peculiar case involving a young man named Frank Lumley, who is experiencing disturbing hallucinations linked to a family curse. The story begins with the protagonist and his colleague, Thorndyke, being invited by a solicitor, Mr. Brodribb, to a seaside retreat at St. David's, where they can investigate Frank's troubling condition. Frank has recently inherited Burling Court after the death of his cousin, Giles Lumley. However, he has become increasingly troubled by visions of apparitions, particularly a luminous bat and an upside-down human head, which he believes are connected to a dark family history detailed in an old manuscript he discovered. This manuscript recounts a gruesome tale of murder and supernatural occurrences involving his ancestor, Gilbert Lumley, who was said to have killed a rival and subsequently faced haunting visions leading to his demise. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Frank's mental state is deteriorating, and Brodribb fears he may be heading towards insanity, a concern compounded by a history of mental illness in the family. Thorndyke and his friend meet Frank, who appears rational yet deeply troubled by his experiences. They learn that the apparitions seem to follow a pattern, occurring at specific intervals after his arrival at Burling Court. The narrative takes a turn when Thorndyke and his friend are called back to London for a brief period, during which they receive news that Frank has gone missing. They suspect he may have succumbed to the same fate as his ancestor, drawn to the cavern where the original murder took place. Rushing back to St. David's, they charter a boat to reach the cavern before high tide, fearing for Frank's life. Upon arriving at the cavern, they find Frank unconscious, having attempted to take laudanum in a state of despair. After reviving him, they investigate the circumstances surrounding his hallucinations. Thorndyke deduces that the apparitions are not supernatural but rather the result of a conspiracy involving Frank's cousin, Lewis Price, who stands to inherit the estate upon Frank's death. The investigation reveals that the manuscript detailing the family curse is a forgery, crafted to manipulate Frank's psyche and induce his hallucinations. Thorndyke uncovers the tools and materials used to create the illusions, including a concave mirror that produced the effect of the floating head. The conspiracy is aimed at driving Frank to madness or suicide, allowing Price to claim the inheritance. In a climactic confrontation, Thorndyke presents the evidence to Price and his wife, revealing their deceit and the lengths they went to in order to secure Frank's downfall. The story concludes with Frank's safety assured, and the conspirators exposed, leaving the protagonist and Thorndyke to reflect on the dark machinations of greed and the fragility of the human mind. The narrative serves as a commentary on the intersection of mental health, familial legacy, and the power of suggestion.
By R. Austin Freeman · First published 1910 · Genre: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Supernatural