The Black Room

In the Tyrolean castle, twin brothers Gregor and Anton are born into the de Berghmann family. An old prophecy warns that the younger brother will kill the elder in the Black Room, casting a long shadow over their lives. The ominous omen sets the stage for a tragic rivalry that defines the family's fate.

By 1834, Baron Gregor has become a depraved ruler who murders the wives of local peasants. His cruelty unsettles the villagers and fuels whispers of a curse upon the family. The baron's tyranny directly contrasts with his brother's later return.

Anton, Gregor's physically crippled but morally steadfast brother, returns to the castle and refuses to believe the rumors about Gregor. He is kind and beloved by the staff and villagers, a stark contrast to Gregor's brutality. The reunion heightens the tension within the household.

Gregor woos Thea, daughter of Colonel Hassell, but Thea's heart truly rests with Anton and Lieutenant Albert Lussan. The complicated affections deepen the rift between the brothers as Thea's loyalties are tested. The balance of power inside the castle shifts as Gregor plots to solidify his control.

Mashka, a loyal servant, disappears after being seen with Gregor, sparking fear among the villagers. A mob forms and storms the castle to confront the baron. Gregor agrees to abdicate and transfer power to Anton, hoping to quell the unrest.

Papers are signed relinquishing the baronetcy to Anton, fulfilling the outward gesture of peace. Gregor then lures his unsuspecting brother to the Black Room, murders him, and throws Anton into a pit where Mashka and other victims lie. He dons Anton's identity to advance his own plans.

With Anton dead, Gregor moves to wed Thea, whose father supports the match. Lt. Lussan objects to the union, creating a personal stake in the rising tension. In a calculated act, Gregor kills Colonel Hassell during a game of chess and uses a mirror trick to frame Lussan for the crime.

Anton's mastiff is the only one who senses that the baron is not his master. The dog trails Gregor as he travels to town for the wedding, signaling that the impostor's cover will soon be blown. The animal's instinct adds a twist to the growing pursuit of truth.

Lt. Lussan escapes his cell and quietly meets Thea, who urges him to flee. He refuses, choosing to face the consequences rather than abandon the truth about Gregor. The wedding ceremony proceeds in the town cathedral, setting up the final confrontation.

As the ceremony nears its close, the priest invites any objections, prompting the dog to strike and expose Gregor in his Anton disguise. The crowd realizes the deception, and the wedding ground to a halt as truth erupts. Gregor's plan to marry Thea collapses in front of the townspeople.

The mob forms and pursues Gregor back to the castle. The mastiff leads the way, squeezing through to the Black Room as the crowd closes in. The chase intensifies the sense that justice will be served in the very place the prophecy foretold.

Gregor is cornered in the Black Room and falls backward onto the knife still held by his murdered brother's hand. The prophecy is fulfilled as the younger brother completes the cycle of murder in the place of the elder. Justice is served, and the castle's dark history ends.