 The character has an artificial heart and powers such as excellent night vision, which is the source of his name.Jean de La Hire (the pen name of Adolphe d'Espi) began his series involving the Nyctalope in 1908 with the novel "L'Homme Qui Peut Vivre dans l'Eau" ("The Man Who Could Live Underwater").The Nyctalope himself does not appear in the story, which stars his father.