  We have found strong selective emission of the N II 5000A complex in the
spectrum of the LMC hypergiant HDE 269896, ON9.7 Ia$^+$. Since this object also
has anomalously strong He II $\lambda$4686 emission for its spectral type, an
unusually wide range of ionization in its extended atmosphere is indicated. The
published model of this spectrum does not reproduce these emission features,
but we show that increased nitrogen and helium abundances, together with small
changes in other model parameters, can do so. The morphological and possible
evolutionary relationships of HDE 269896, as illuminated by the new spectral
features, to other denizens of the OB Zoo are discussed. This object may be in
an immediate pre-WNVL (Very Late WN) state, which is in turn the quiescent
state of at least some Luminous Blue Variables.
  More generally, the N II spectrum in HDE 269896 provides a striking
demonstration of the occurrence of two distinctly different kinds of line
behavior in O-type spectra: normal absorption lines that develop P Cygni
profiles at high wind densities, and selective emission lines from the same
ions that do not. Further analysis of these features will advance understanding
of both atomic physics and extreme stellar atmospheres.
