The Novel of the White Powder by Arthur Machen

What is in that powder my brother keeps taking? A classic fright from 1895, said to have been an early influence on HP Lovecraft. Junie Ginsburg narrates. Arthur Machen was born in Wales and became enamored with mysticism and the occult at an early age. The Novel of the White Powder was part of The Three Impostors, a novel composed of a number of interwoven tales, in 1895. The novel and the stories within it were eventually to be regarded as among Machen's best works. However, following the indecency scandal surrounding Oscar Wilde later that year, Machen's association with works of decadent horror made it difficult for him to find a publisher for new works until later in his career. Publisher John Lane, wary of the atmosphere, asked Machen to censor his manuscript. Barring the omission of one word, Machen refused to comply.