SOURCE: "Mr. Stevenson's Forerunner," in The Yellow Book, Vol. IV, January, 1895, pp. 121-42.

In the following essay, Noble examines the autobiographical elements in Smith's prose as well as his use of picturesque detail.

For a long time—I can hardly give a number to its years—I have been haunted by a spectre of duty. Of late the visitations of the haunter have recurred with increasing frequency and added persistence of appeal; and though, like Hamlet, I have long dallied with the ghostly behest, like him I am at last compelled to obedience. Ghosts, I believe, have a habit of putting themselves in evidence for the purpose of demanding justice, and my ghost makes no display of originality: in this respect he follows the time-honoured example of his tribe, and if peace of mind is to return to me the exorcism of compliance must needs be uttered.

Emerson...