Who is The Man in the Mask from A Children's Tragedy and what is their importance?

The Man in the Mask is a mysterious being.... he is surreal. When he appears to Melchior, the Man in the Mask refuses to identify himself. He is the past, the future, and everything in between.... he acts as a guide, pushing Melchior forward, assisting Melchior in the transition from puberty into adulthood.