8,443 words (35–45 minutes)
Genre(s): Horror, Adventure
First Publication: Weird Tales, April 1926

⸻

Pierre, a daring cavalier, arrives at the remote African stronghold of Dom Vincente da Lusto, a ruthless trader and empire-builder. Among the guests gathered for revelry is the enigmatic de Montour, a man haunted by a dark and terrible curse. As sinister forces stir in the jungle and among the native tribes, a series of gruesome murders grips the fortress. Is it a savage beast, a supernatural horror, or something even more horrifying—an evil that walks in the guise of man? When the castle comes under siege, Pierre must uncover the truth before it is too late.