The new terror

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

76493

Title

The new terror

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this supernatural thriller, a newlywed husband discovers his wife's mind has been altered by a thief's psychic influence. As he navigates a world of delusions and spectral visions, he must confront a deadly rival in a duel that reveals a terrifying truth about the nature of love, possession, and the boundary between reality and the supernatural.

Summary up to 500 words

In Gaston Leroux's *The New Terror*, the narrative unfolds through two intertwined tales of psychological horror and supernatural intrusion. The primary story follows Hector, a devoted husband who marries the beautiful Cordelia. Shortly after their wedding, Cordelia undergoes a drastic personality shift following an encounter with a mysterious thief named Patrick. Hector initially attributes her strange behavior to illness or imagination, but soon realizes she is under a powerful psychic influence. She begins to feel physical pain and see visions of events occurring at a distance, specifically within Patrick's hotel room. This phenomenon, described as the externalization of sensibility, allows Hector to witness Patrick's crimes and hear his conversations, while Cordelia simultaneously suffers the physical consequences of his actions, such as bleeding from wounds inflicted on him. Hector's desperate attempts to protect his wife from Patrick's malevolent aura lead to a tragic climax. A duel is arranged between Hector and Patrick. As the pistols are fired, Hector is horrified to see Cordelia's spirit appear between them at the moment of discharge. Her astral body manifests clearly, causing Patrick to miss his shot. In a twist of fate, Patrick inadvertently shoots himself, while Cordelia, whose physical body remains in the room, is killed by a bullet through the heart. The story concludes with Hector mourning his wife, believing he killed her through his own actions, and keeping her heart in an urn to protect it from further theft. Parallel to this is the tragic tale of Herbert, the son of a public executioner. Herbert discovers his father's secret trade and the bloody axe used in murders, leading to his own descent into madness and eventual suicide. Through these intertwined fates, Leroux explores themes of psychic phenomena, the corruption of innocence, and the inescapable shadow of violence. The novel questions the boundaries between the physical and spiritual worlds, suggesting that the mind possesses a weight and power that can transcend matter, ultimately leading to devastating consequences for those who cannot escape the influence of evil spirits.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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data/epubs/pg76493.epub

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Categories

• Short Stories
• Psychology
• Classics
• Mystery
• Horror
• French Fiction