# Dr. Lewis — Short Fiction character guide > Dr. Lewis in Short Fiction by Arthur Machen. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Lewis, the Unknown Tree Dr. Lewis **First appearance:** 0036-the-terror ## Snapshot A doctor who looks out his French window one calm night and sees a tall pine that cannot possibly be there, fretted with lights and colors. ## Who they are Lewis is a man of normal temperature and a pint of Graves with dinner, which makes the tree in his garden all the more disturbing: he is not delirious, not drunk, not poisoned, and yet the impossible pine stands against the sky with quivering leafage. He conceals the truth from Remnant because he dreads the Z-Ray doctrine that would inevitably follow, and because he hopes he has heard the last of it. His private perplexity — questions with no answer — makes him the story's most credible witness to the incredible. ## Relationships ### [Mrs. Darnell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_6_se/characters/mrs_darnell) _professional_ Dr. Lewis appears to be Mrs. Darnell's physician or caretaker, with frequent interactions suggesting medical oversight. ### [Miss Mary Reynolds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_6_se/characters/miss_mary_reynolds) _professional_ Dr. Lewis treats Miss Mary Reynolds as a patient, possibly for a chronic condition requiring frequent visits. ### [Dr. Black](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_6_se/characters/dr_black) _professional_ Dr. Black and Dr. Lewis are fellow physicians, likely consulting each other on medical cases. ### [Mr. and Mrs. Merritt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_6_se/characters/mr_and_mrs_merritt) _professional_ Dr. Lewis provides medical care to the Merritt family, with frequent home visits. ### [Alice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_6_se/characters/alice) _professional_ Alice is likely Dr. Lewis's nurse or receptionist, assisting with his practice. ### [Mr. Remnant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_6_se/characters/mr_remnant) _professional_ Dr. Lewis and Mr. Remnant have a professional relationship, possibly as doctor and patient or colleague. ### [Mrs. Black](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_6_se/characters/mrs_black) _professional_ Dr. Lewis treats Mrs. Black, likely as her physician for ongoing health issues. ### [Tom Griffith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_6_se/characters/tom_griffith) _professional_ Dr. Lewis treats Tom Griffith, a patient requiring regular medical attention. ### [Mrs. Darnell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_6_se/characters/mrs_darnell) _professional_ Dr. Lewis appears to be Mrs. Darnell's physician or caretaker, with frequent interactions suggesting medical oversight. ### [Miss Mary Reynolds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_6_se/characters/miss_mary_reynolds) _professional_ Dr. Lewis treats Miss Mary Reynolds as a patient, possibly for a chronic condition requiring frequent visits. ### [Mr. Remnant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_6_se/characters/mr_remnant) _professional_ Dr. Lewis and Mr. Remnant have a professional relationship, possibly as doctor and patient or colleague. ### [Alice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_6_se/characters/alice) _professional_ Alice is likely Dr. Lewis's nurse or receptionist, assisting with his practice. ## In the story ### [III: The Doctors Theory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_6_se/chapters/iii-the-doctors-theory) Proposes the theory of a homicidal maniac, citing the Llangibby murder case. ### [IV: The Spread of the Terror](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_6_se/chapters/iv-the-spread-of-the-terror) Comments wryly on Remnant's theory, noting that it essentially admits ignorance. ### [V: The Incident of the Unknown Tree](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_6_se/chapters/v-the-incident-of-the-unknown-tree) Hosts Remnant and witnesses the impossible tree transformation. ### [Mr. Remnant’s Z-Ray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_6_se/chapters/vi-mr-remnant-s-z-ray) Returns home perplexed by the strange tree; conceals the truth from Remnant; listens to Merritt's account of terror in the Midlands. ### [VII: The Case of the Hidden Germans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_6_se/chapters/vii-the-case-of-the-hidden-germans) Listens to Merritt's rumors about hidden Germans and connects them to the supernatural events in Meirion. ### [VIII: What Mr. Merritt Found](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_6_se/chapters/viii-what-mr-merritt-found) The doctor hosts Merritt, discusses the sentry and the marsh death, and deliberately conceals the connection to the terror. ### [IX: The Light on the Water](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_6_se/chapters/ix-the-light-on-the-water) Lewis carefully manages Merritt's knowledge of the terror, dismisses his heliograph theory, and is called to attend a child's mysterious death. ### [X: The Child and the Moth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_6_se/chapters/x-the-child-and-the-moth) Investigates the deaths of Johnnie Roberts and Joseph Cradock; notes the asphyxiation without marks or gas. ### [At Treff Loyne Farm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_6_se/chapters/xi-at-treff-loyne-farm) Dr. Lewis joins the search party, concerned about a young painter lodging at Treff Loyne. ### [XII: The Letter of Wrath](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_6_se/chapters/xii-the-letter-of-wrath) Leads the party, examines the body, and discovers Secretan's manuscript. ### [XIV: The End of the Terror](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_6_se/chapters/xiv-the-end-of-the-terror) Dr. Lewis presents his theory that the Terror was caused by swarms of moths asphyxiating victims, and discusses the spiritual downfall of man leading to the uprising of beasts. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_6_se/characters/dr_lewis - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_6_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_6_se/characters