From Beyond Summary

The tale begins with the narrator introducing a scientist and friend, Crawford Tillinghast. He remarks that the man has changed “horrible beyond conception” and is further worried when Tillinghast mentions about how his servants had left three days ago. Tillinghast tells the narrator of a machine he has created that allows a person to see beyond the five main senses, which is later explained as seeing ultra violet, and then proceeds to demonstrate. A moment or so after the machine is turned on, the narrator begins to see visions of a temple of “long dead gods,” and then observes a void so terrifying that it causes him to draw out his revolver in fear.

After the visions pass, all there is in the room is the narrator, the machine, and Tillinghast who grins insanely at the narrator. Unwholesome looking creatures that could only be seen in ultra violet then begin surrounding and passing through the two. Tillinghast goes on to explain in a whisper that there are other creatures, which has “dissolved” his servants, and he plans to watch it happen to the narrator after failing to see it directly to the servants. In a panic, the narrator shoots the machine, destroying the device. Police find the narrator unconscious with his revolver in hand and Tillinghast dead, which was later caused apparently by apoplexy. Due to this traumatic event, the narrator was scared for life and could never be able to look at the world the same way again.