Death at the Door

"Aroused from sleep I slowly opened my eyes as I lay still in bed. Standing in the corner of the room just to the right of the door, and just visible in the light shining in from the hall stood a dark foreboding figure. His face was skeletal, but darker and blurred.

Instantly I knew this figure's intent was not good. Boldly and without hesitation I shouted, 'be gone in the name of Jesus.' The figure seemed to whence, then shrunk sideward and out the door, not turning it's gaze away from me. In the hall it continued to gaze intently at me and I could feel it trying to search my mind for doubt, fear or any other unholy agreement to his cause. But I stood firm in my statement and offered no re-entrance. At last the figure turned away to the right and proceeded down the hall in a clouded veil of darkness. I noted the time; it was exactly 3:17 am."

That's the story my father recounted. It wasn't until two days passed that news would arrived. A restless gentleman in reasonable health had been evidently unable to sleep and walking the halls both for exercise, as his condition was not critical nor terminal, and tire himself. It was at exactly 3:17 am that this gentlemen had fallen over dead in the hall just two doors down to the right from my fathers.