Supernatural the book of monsters, demons, spirits and ghouls

Spirits, part 2

Here's an old story, maybe one of the oldest, about a spirit like that. It's one of Dad's favorites-well, was one of Dad's favorites. It's maybe the prototype haunted house story.

PLINY THE YOUNGER, LETTER TO SURA:
There was at Athens a large and roomy house, which had a bad name, so that no one could live there. In the dead of  the night a noise, resembling the clashing of iron, was frequently heard, which if you listened more attentively, sounded like the rattling of chains, distant at first, but approaching nearer by degrees: immediately afterward a specter appeared in the form of an old man, of extremely emaciated and squalid appearance, with a long beard and disheveled hair, rattling the chains on his feet and hands. The distressed occupants meanwhile past their wakeful nights under the most dreadful terrors imaginable. This, as it broke their rest, mined their health, and brought on distempers, their terror grew upon them, and death ensued. Even in the daytime, though the spirit did not appear, yet the impression remained so strong upon their imaginations that it still seemed before their eyes, and kept them in perpetual alarm. Consequently the house was at length deserted, as being deemed absolutely uninhabitable, so that it was now entirely abandoned to the ghost. However, in hopes that some tenant might be found who was ignorant of this very alarming circumstance, a bill was put up, giving notice that it was either to be let or sold. It happened that Athenodorus the philosopher came to Athens at this time, and, reading the bill, enquired the price. The extraordinary cheapness raised his suspicion; nevertheless, when he heard the whole story, he was so far from being discouraged, that he was more strongly inclined to hire it, and, in short, actually did so. When it grew toward evening, he ordered a couch to be prepared for him in the front part of the house, and, after calling for a light, together with his pencil and tablets, directed all his people to retire. But that his mind might not, for want of employment, be open to the vain terrors of imaginary noises and spirits, he applied himself to writing with the utmost attention. The first part of the night passed in entire silence, as used; at length a clanking of iron and rattling of chains was heard: however...