Moxon's Master, by Ambrose Bierce.

Ambrose Bierce is well-known in the annals of great writing, mostly for his story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," about a Civil War soldier being hung for treason. A Civil War veteran himself on the Union side, Bierce is also still known for his other war stories, and poetry. Throughout his stories there winds a thread of being a fabulist, and Moxon's Master, written in 1899, is no exception. Crossing the divide between psychological horror and science fiction, Moxon's Master explores the strange and strained relationship between man and machine, predating so many other works that delve into the very same arena.

Bierce was a ceaselessly interesting character, known for biting sarcasm and wit and his disdain for most of humanity. His writing influenced such luminaries as H.P. Lovecraft and H. L. Mencken, and while he was fluent in many writing styles, his style was not for everyone of the age. Bierce's final resting place is unknown; he disappeared without a trace while riding as an observer with Pancho Villa's army through Mexico in 1913.