Clara and Theodore Wieland’s father spontaneously combusts while worshipping, and his children inherit his property. As adults, Theo, Clara, and Pleyel start hearing voices. Carwin appears and says the voices may be caused by human mimicry. Clara finds Carwin hiding in her closet. He claims he had been planning to rape her, but believes she’s under the protection of a supernatural force. The next morning, Pleyel accuses Clara of having an affair with Carwin. She tries to tell him otherwise, but he doesn’t believe her. Clara finds a letter from Carwin, asking to meet her at her house. When she arrives, there are noises and lights, and she sees a glimpse of Carwin. In her room, she finds a letter from Carwin, and Catharine in her bed – dead. Theo arrives and threatens Clara, but leaves when he hears voices. Theo’s kids and Louisa Conway have also been killed. Clara falls ill; later, she is able to read the murderer's testimony. Theo claims to have been acting under divine orders. Clara thinks Carwin is the source of Theo’s madness. Carwin reveals to Clara that he is a biloquist. He caused most of the voices, but claims he didn’t cause the murders. Theo escapes, arrives at Clara's house, and tries to kill her. Carwin uses his ability to tell Theo to stop, and that Theo should not have listened to the voices. Theo kills himself in remorse. Clara refuses to leave her house, until it burns down one day. She then goes to Europe with her uncle, and eventually marries Pleyel.
