Arthur Burdon and Dr. Porhoet are having a conversation in the hotel when an obese man enters the room. Dr. Porhoet is praising the beauty of Margaret Dauncey who is in love with Arthur. The entrance of Oliver Haddo draws Dr. Porhoet’s attention. Upon insistence on who Haddo is, Arthur is shocked when Dr. Porhoet says he claims to be a magician. Haddo is a self-proclaimed magician who amuses everyone with strange stories. The magician is obsessed with magical stories and books. The preposterous stories told by Haddo make Dr. Porhoet revel in happiness.
The narrative is marred with friendship, lies, betrayal, and death. Arthur and Margaret are deeply in love before Haddo comes into their lives. Gradually, Margaret becomes enthralled by Haddo’s personality. Sometimes, she hides from her friend, Susie Boyd, to visit Haddo. The love between Haddo and Margaret intensifies culminating in marriage. The main reason why Haddo marries Margaret is to sacrifice her. Susie and Arthur are convinced that Margaret’s love for Haddo is magical. When Arthur whisks Margaret away to hide from Haddo, she comes back to him. Therefore, Arthur and Susie believe this is not real love.
The mysterious death of Margaret prompts Arthur, Susie, and Dr. Porhoet to confront Haddo. Haddo is unfazed and keeps on saying that his wife died of a heart attack. The claims are also supported by a local doctor. However, Arthur turns violent and fights Haddo to death. When the three friends visit an old house where Haddo used to stay, they are totally confused to learn that he had inserted strange substances in glass tubes. The trio believes the experiments are the reason Haddo sacrificed his wife.
