Introduction. The work of N.S. Leskov, in particular the story “The Enchanted Wanderer”, is closely connected with the traditions of Russian oral art. Despite the fact that this work has been deeply and fully researched in Russian literary criticism both from the point of view of embodying the theme of “righteousness” and in terms of reflecting the folklore figurative system, a number of issues require additional reflection. The purpose of the study is to analyze the depiction of demons in the story “The Enchanted Wanderer” by N.S.Leskov, demons as characters of Russian lower demonology, as well as the interpretation of the motif of “demonic” in this work. The research material is N.S. Leskov’s novel “The Enchanted Wanderer”. Research methods: cultural-historical, comparative-comparative. The results of the study. The motive of “devilry” in the story “The Enchanted Wanderer” can be traced throughout the development of the plot action. More than once, Flyagin admits that he seems to be fighting evil spirits, that he is overcome by sinful aspirations and thoughts, that he commits bad deeds under the influence of a demon. The story of the magnetizer is also regarded by Flyagin as an “obsession”, and the magnetizer itself is repeatedly compared to a demon or a devil. Partly, the experience of the hero’s acting correlates with the motive of “devilry”. In the last chapter of the story, Flyagin tells the narrator about the visions and temptations that he suffers from demons while staying in a monastery. The hero of the story “The Enchanted Wanderer” is forced to fight with the dirty tricks of small imps, which bothered him a lot. Conclusion. Ivan Severyanovich Flyagin interprets many episodes of his life as a confrontation with demonic temptations, as a struggle against the diabolical obsession. In the images of demons, the motif of “devilry” in N.S.Leskov’s story “The Enchanted Wanderer”, folk ideas about evil spirits, their influence on human life and spiritual state are realized.