Ghost Story Review: "Debt of Honor" by J. Sheridan Le Fanu

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This ghost story (the subtitle assures the reader it is thus) begins in a suitably gothic manner: hearing cries of sorrow in a churchyard. The narrator, Reginald Westcar, is making a tour of the European continent, having just finished his degree at Oxford some time in 185—. He’s “watching the calm glories of the moonlight illuminating with silver splendor the lake of Lucerne.” He’d thought he was alone, but comes across a man who seems to know him. This is explained by Westcar’s name being the only other English name in the hotel registry. When he returns to London, he finds, much to his surprise, he’s inherited a small estate in Cumberland. It takes a bit to explain the family relationships leading to his inheritance, known as the Shallows, but all this is relevant, if tedious. It also explains the neighbors and their estate, the Mere. While Reginald is sleeping the first night at the Shallows, he has a dream—or is it a dream?—of his late maiden aunt Aldina telling him the Mere is his and he should compel the present owner, Mr. Maryon, to pay him the debt of honor. While the premise of the story is solid, the execution is clunky to say the least. There are so many see-‘em-comings the only thing author J. Sheridan Le Fanu left out was a dark and stormy night. And DANG are the ghosties chatty! No spirit pointing silently at Ebenezer Scrooge’s tombstone silently and letting him figure it out for himself; these spirits from the great beyond leave nothing to the imagination. And of course, the bad guys get their comeuppance is spades. The good guy gets the girl. Le Fanu’s writings include many ghost and supernatural pieces. He influenced such writers as M. R. James and may have even influenced aspects of Jane Eyre. His vampire novella, Carmilla, influences Bram Stoker’s Dracula. This short story is available in the collection A Stable for Nightmares or Weird Tales at Project Gutenberg: _____ Title: “Debt of Honor” Author: Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (1814-1873) First published: in the collection A Stable for Nightmares or Weird Tales1896 Source: ISFDB