Penny Dreadfuls, 1866 · page 21 of 276
Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# What's on This Page This is an illustrated page from Chapter IX (continued) of the penny dreadful *Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night*. The large wood-engraved illustration titled "The Incantation" depicts a supernatural confrontation: a mysterious robed figure warns Ivan and other characters against their "hellish rites," then vanishes. Below the image, the running prose continues the melodramatic narrative, describing the apparition's disappearance, a dramatic thunderclap, and dialogue between Ivan and a Sorcerer plotting to capture Lady Laura's brother Harry Percy and eventually possess the "charming Laura" herself. The text emphasizes supernatural horror and villainy typical of Victorian sensation fiction.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
IVAN THE TERRIBLE; OR, DARK DEEDS OF NIGHT. = ——— My, ——— L | _ ——y ae ———— ——— > ay SS | ie i | — Se ye \ ‘ ‘ » Y, TDs i) Z : | y ‘ | l > ; > iy, 4 ) i FN WIS Wy UA NEE ra ) ») ——— ¥} , LY, “p- — Z 4A ee — a Ae _— SS SN ~ \ \ \ 2 i _———— Hy WT | ——<$—<<———— || | —— ————————— rai aH wee yet * 5) 4 Seer \ = THE INCANTATION.—See page 19. CHAPTER IX—(continued). ‘©T come to warn ye, human monsters !” At that same moment unseen spirits screamed aloud, and seemed to flee from the presence of the mysterious stranger. “Who art thou?” hissed the old man, in terrible anger. “Who art thou that dares cross the path of Ivan the Terrible?” said Ivan, with glistening eyes. “‘T am the Man of Mystery ?” was the solemn response. “I come to warn you; desist from your hellish rites, or perish !” “ Ha, ha!” said the Sorcerer in disdain, “come to warn me! You know me not,” ‘Nor do you me; yet the time shall come, and shortly, when both you and all that follow you shall tremble at the very name of the Man of Mystery! Go, then, practice your hellish rites, yet touch but a hair of Harry Percy, the un- resisting boy you have bound and threatened, and the earth shall open and engulph ye both! Wretches, farewell !” So saying, the strange apparition vanished like a thing of Bir, No, 2. Ivan and Dreadnought looked about them for a moment like men demented. The Sorcerer laughed aloud, and his voice re-echoed loud in that old, wild, and deserted ruin, At that moment a clap of thunder burst overhead with a terrible peal that shook the very earth. But soon quiet was again restored, Ivan was himself again, and followed the Sorcerer with a bold step. “The victim is Lady Laura’s brother,” said the old man; “tis well; the sooner every one of the Percys shall have succumbed to my power, Ivan, the sooner will you possess the charming Laura, your idol and heart’s queen,” Ivan now seemed to breathe with renewed courage and vigour, and he dragged his unconscious victim by the hempen halter with loud curses and vindictive oaths, “Lady Laura is handsome,” chuckled the Sorcerer, “She could not be otherwise. The qualities of her pure, simple and affectionate heart beam in her eyes,” replied Ivan, “ Of what colour are her eyes? It is important to know,” She has a fine hazel eye, CONGO OOIX<S com > Oe ' « Bit My “, PLUG My tos PAY nahe