The Yellow Mask

"Count Fabio d'Ascoli is a pupil of the master-sculptor, Luca Lomi. Lomi's brother, Father Rocco of Pisa, believes that part of the young Count's inheritance is money stolen from the Church. In order to recover it, Rocco plans to have Fabio marry Lomi's daughter, Maddalena, over whom he can exert influence. He persuades Fabio's true love, the naive model Nanina, to leave Pisa. The marriage takes place but Maddalena dies the following year after the birth of a daughter. Rocco decides to play on Fabio's superstitions to prevent him from remarrying. He employs the mercenary Brigida to impersonate Maddalena at a masked ball by wearing a yellow mask over a cast of Maddalena's face. Fabio is so shocked at the ghost of his dead wife that his mind is temporarily unhinged. Nanina is able to prove that he has been tricked by natural means and they are happily married." -- <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="http://www.wilkie-collins.info/books_after_dark.htm">Wilkie Collins Information Pages</a>

Non-supernatural, containing a faked ghost. First published in Household Words, 7-28 July 1855.