The Unexpected (Volume 1) with a cover date of March, 1970. It was published on December 4, 1969.
Synopsis for "Midnight Summons the Executioner"
Lord Eustace is locked in a feud with Baron Lefay from a neighboring manor. Eustace traps Lefay and his family in a castle and executes them. The ghost of Lefay visits Eustace later that night. The ghost places a curse on the murderers family, it will visit the family every generation to pluck a life. The ghost stipulates that the family will choose who will give up their life each time he returns. He leaves the castle and states that he will return in 25 years for the first victim. Fastforward 25 years later and the ghost is true to his word claiming the life of Eustaces son Aubrey. The ghost returns once every 25 years for its latest victim. The latest generation is headed by a man named Lemuel. He has the idea that he will recruit a stranger to take the place of the latest victim. He finds Johnny Peril and declares that he is a long lost nephew. The family toasts to his honor but some of the family members become guilty knowing that Johnny Peril is scheduled to give up his life in place of a family member. The ghost finally appears but a young boy from the family bursts out that he will sacrifice himself to the ghost. The head of the family Lemuel sees that little boys courage and decides to sacrifice himself for the good of the family.
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Synopsis for "Hands of Death!"
A young woman named Susan dates a man who works as an undertaker. She seems to have feelings for him but she is reluctant and terrified to have him touch her. She is really disturbed by the fact that he works with and handles dead bodies. One night, Susan falls asleep with a cigarette in her hand and her house catches on fire. Her boyfriend arrives on the scene just in time to save her life but he sacrifices his arm in the rescue. In the end he gives up his undertaker business and marries Susan in a double ring ceremony with his new prosthetic hand.
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Synopsis for "The House that Hate Built!"
Clem Atwill is run out of the small town of Scoville chased by an angry mob. He has apparently cheated a number of people out of their money and he hopes to escape to the next town to deposit his ill gotten gains in a bank. As he runs on foot he encounters a swamp. He navigates through the murky waters when he runs into a man who offers to guide him out of the swamp. Atwill spots a small town in the distance and declares that he wants to go there. The stranger warns him not to go but Atwill does not listen and makes a beeline for the small buildings in the distance. He arrives at a bank where he deposits his million dollars and immediately begins to invest in the town. He soon spots a lovely young woman named Lydia who happens to be the daughter of the bank President. Fowler declares his interest in Lydia but she proclaims that she is already engaged to to a man named George Graham. Atwill uses his money to ruin Graham in the hopes that Lydia will marry him. He then buys her a new house with the expectation that she marry and move in with him. Lydia agrees to the deal for fear that Atwill will target her father. Lydia announces that she will move into the house that was built on hate and suddenly all the buildings and people disappear including Lydia. Atwill is left alone standing in a swamp when the stranger from the beginning of the story appears once again. He explains that Atwill has experienced a mirage and nothing was real. Everything is gone including Atwills million dollars.
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