A Freischütz ("freeshooter")[1], in German folklore, is a marksman who, by a contract with the devil, has obtained a certain number of bullets destined to hit without fail whatever object he wishes. As the legend is usually told, six of the magic bullets (German: Freikugeln, literally "free bullets"), are thus subservient to the marksman's will, but the seventh is at the absolute disposal of the devil himself.
Various methods were adopted in order to procure possession of the marvelous missiles. According to one, the marksman, instead of swallowing the sacramental host, kept it and fixed it on a tree, shot at it and caused it to bleed great drops of blood. He then gathered the drops on a piece of cloth and reduced the whole to ashes, and then with these ashes added the requisite virtue to the lead of which his bullets were made. Various vegetable or animal substances had the reputation of serving the same purpose.
Stories about the Freischütz were especially common in Germany during the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries; but the first time that the legend was turned to literary profit is said to have been by Johann August Apel in the Gespensterbuch or Book of Ghosts. It formed the subject of Weber's opera Der Freischütz (1821), the libretto of which was written by Johann Friedrich Kind, who had suggested Apel's story as an excellent theme for the composer.
One of the version of this story is called The Affianced Spectre by E.T.A. Hoffmann [2], in this story, After the 7th bullet shoots Wilhelm's mistress,Catherine, instead of his game,to which Wilhelm aimed at. and the devil triumphed at his misery. afterwards, Wilhelm marries another women at the end of the year, despite the fact that he swore an oath at Catherine's grave which stated that Wilhelm will remain single for rest of his life.
Out of grief, Wilhelm resigns himself to solitary excursion into the forest. as he rides, he hears the wild huntsman, his pack, and wolves chasing at him. then the thunderbolt throws Wilhelm from the horse. then, a mysterious voice commends Wilhelm to follow to a cavern. at that cavern, he sees many skeletons. one of them turns out to be Catherine's and then, Catherine waltzed with Wilhelm. other skeletons joins the dance until daybreak. the following morning, Wilhelm is found dead with his horse gnawed by the wolves.