Paranormal novel from the 1930s (I think)

About thirty years ago, I read a novel which was about paranormal phenomena. I believe that the book was published in the 1930s. It was a fairly typical haunted house story. The distinctive feature of the story was that there was a scientist/researcher who built a collection of human figures made of wire mesh. They were arranged around a table holding hands as in a seance. The idea was that they were similar to the human nervous system which he believed would act like a sort of antenna to pick up psychic energy. I think the word "Morning" was in the title.

I finally found it! It's just been republished by NYRB. The particular novel is The Edge of Running Water and is part of an omnibus edition called The Rim of Morning. My copy just arrived in time for my October horror read. Yeah!

So glad you found it!

NYRB has really found some gems and brought them back into circulation.

Elizabeth Hand recently reviewed the omnibus edition in the Washington Post. Very interesting. I read The Edge of Running Water as a teenager and didn't get it; may try again.

Thanks. I read that as a teenager. I don't remember the story well - I did not recognize it from your description - but after all these years, I still remember I really like it, and it was really spooky. I just looked to see if our public library has it, and it did not show up, but Rim of Morning did, so thanks for posting that tidbit. It's got a lot of requests, I'll add my name to the list!