\"A distinguished American writer of fiction said to me lately: \"Did you ever think of the vital American way we live? We are always going after mental gymnastics.\" Now the mystery story is mental gymnastics. By the time the reader has followed a chain of facts through he has exercised his mind, - given himself a mental breather. But the claims of the true mystery story do not end with the general reader. It is entitled to the consideration of the discriminating because it indubitably takes its own place as a gauge of mastery in the field of the short story. The demand was never quite so keen as it is now. The currents of literature as of all things change swiftly these times. This world of ours has become very sophisticated. It has suffered itself to be exploited till there is no external wonder left. Retroactively the demand for mystery, which is the very soul of interest, must find new expression. Thus we turn inward for fresh thrills to the human comedy, and outward to the realm of the supernatural.\" [...] Part three of the Masterpieces collection. Contains narratives from Wilkie Collins, Edgar Allan Poe and many others.
