SOURCE: "HUGUES THE WER-WOLF" (1838) by Sutherland Menzies

DESCRIPTION: "This chest, which had evidently remained long unopened, continued the complete disguise of a wer-wolf--a dyed sheep-skin, with gloves in the form of paws, a tail, a mask with an elongated muzzle, and furnished with formidable rows of yellow horse-teeth."

PLOT: Hugues' family is reviled for being werewolves. After they all die, Hugues adopts the werewolf costume he finds and begins terrorizing travellers. One in particular is Willieblud, who must bring him a joint of meat each time he passes. Hugues falls in love with Willieblud's niece, Branda, and insists that she be brought to him. Willieblud does, abandoning her to the werewolf. Later Willieblud cuts off Hugues hand, but can't prove his werewolfery because Branda supplies the missing hand to Hugues. Willieblud goes insane and the couple is free to marry happily.

WEREWOLF FACTS: The werewolf in this Gothic spine-tingler is a false werewolf, a great-grand-dad of the Scooby Doo variety of monsters. The story does use the standard cut off hand to prove the werewolf's guilt.

INTERESTING FACTS: The Gothics loved to explain away the supernatural (ala Ms. Radcliffe.) There is a long tradition of fake werewolves that begins about this time and continues to this day. Not as much fun as the real deal, but, hey, some people need reality.