"Der kleine Dämon" by Fyodor Sologub is a novel written between 1892 and 1902. In a provincial Russian town, gymnasium teacher Peredonov treats those beneath him with cruelty while dreaming of advancement to school inspector. His cousin Varvara manipulates him with forged letters promising connections to a St. Petersburg princess. As paranoia consumes him, Peredonov sees conspiracies everywhere—faces in playing cards, his friend as a threatening ram, and a demonic creature stalking his every step, driving him toward madness and violence.