Posts-in-Page Plugin Display Issue

Development site, Localhost, Xampp, Win10, Mantra Theme

Changed post template to the following:
<div class=”pip-xxx”>
<!– This outputs the post TITLE –>
<h2 class=”pip-title-xxx”>“><?php the_title(); ?></h2>
<!– This outputs the post EXCERPT. To display full content including images and html,
replace the_excerpt(); with the_content(); below. –>
<div class=”pip-sum-xxx”>
<?php the_excerpt(); ?>
</div>
</div>

where “xxx” classes are an attempt to reduce excess white space and I have cut back the template to only include a title and a short excerpt. Unfortunately there is still an extra line / space below the excerpt, and what looks like two blank placeholders for a post above and below the single post being displayed on the page (select by category using the revised template). These placeholders are white boxes with grey bars on the left side.

How do I get rid of these extra placeholders, and get ride of the extra line below the excerpt. I have looked through a lot of code and your knowledge base to no avail. Sorry can’t include an image in this post.

Thanks.