Robert Elwell (Afterward)

Bob Elwell was an associate of Edward Boyne in the Blue Star enterprise (Wharton 365). He has a wife, children and takes care of his supposedly sick mother (Wharton 369). Robert is referred to as Bob in the story. It is Bob that had told Edward about the Blue Star Mine, only to be cheated by him. This event ruined him. He tried to sue Edward Boyne but ultimately withdrew the suit because his lawyers told him that he had no chance to win the case. With his resources at the end, the desperate Bob Elwell decides to commit suicide and fails. He shoots himself and thus allows his spirit to appear as a ghost at Lyng. There he tries to reach Ned Boyne but is unable to do so because his physical existence has not yet ended. Fascinatingly enough, Bob Elwell manages to survive his suicide attempt. The nearly dead man has to carry on for two months before he finally succumbs to his self-inflicted gunshot wound. Once again, his lust for revenge or the injustice he had to suffer are so great that he is able to transcend into the spiritual world. His spiritual self is able to materialize once more at Lyng. The now ghostly Bob Elwell has only one quest, to avenge himself, to bring justice to the man that had brought ruin upon him and his family. He meets Mary Boyne in the garden and she tells him the location of Ned. With the location known to him and the kitchen maid letting him in, the specter is able to reach Edward Boyne and leaves Lyng with him (Wharton 373).

Wharton, Edith. "Afterward". The Muse's Tragedy and Other Stories . Ed. Candace Waid. London: Penguin Books, 1992. 342-373. Print.