The Black Torment

Lucy Judd is pursued in a nocturnal wood and overpowered by a figure in black. The assailant clamps his hands around her throat, forcing a struggle. Her death plants a fearsome seed of rumor and dread that haunts the village.

In daylight, Sir Richard and his bride Elizabeth travel by horse-drawn carriage from London to meet his father-in-law. Elizabeth is anxious but hopeful about making a good impression. Sir Richard explains that his father is crippled by a stroke and communicates only through sign language with Diane interpreting.

They arrive at Fordyke Hall to a formal, chilly reception from the staff, with Diane acting as the intermediary for the patriarch’s signing. Elizabeth senses underlying hostility from the villagers and the household. Sir Richard tries to calm the atmosphere, but tension remains high.

The village is abuzz with shocking rumors surrounding Lucy’s murder, including whispers that her last words named Sir Richard. Seymour repeats unsettling tales that logic cannot dispel and fear festers into superstition. Sir Richard denies being near the village, yet suspicion lingers.

A copy of Anne’s suicide note is delivered to Elizabeth, linking the past to the present in unsettling fashion. The window where Anne jumped becomes unbolted at night, feeding talk of hauntings. Sir Richard glimpses what he believes is Anne’s ghost wandering the garden.

Sir Richard sees the ghostly figure again in the garden, confirming his fear that reality is slipping away. The specter unnerves him as he questions his own sanity. Villagers escalate the narrative with talk of witchcraft and devilry.

Mary, a housemaid who had been enjoying a secret nocturnal affair, is strangled in a similar manner to Lucy. The murder amplifies the sense that dark forces are at work. Elizabeth and Sir Richard grow more unsettled as the attacks continue.

A saddle inscribed with Anne’s name arrives, and the saddler claims Sir Richard ordered it in person, though Sir Richard swears he has been away for months. A stablehand reports a woman riding at night who is using a horse that should be idle. The odd deliveries deepen the mystery.

Colonel Wentworth informs Sir Richard of reports that he has been seen riding at night, pursued by a white-clad 'Anne' who cries that he is a murderer. The rumors of witchcraft intensify and multiple witnesses feed the paranoia. The line between truth and superstition blurs further.

Elizabeth struggles to believe the increasingly strange events while Sir Richard’s behavior becomes more erratic. The couple’s trust frays as fear and suspicion poison their relationship. Both begin to worry that someone may be manipulating them.

Sir Richard again sees the ghost in the garden, spurring a wild chase on horseback. He is intercepted by the local militia and briefly arrested before being released, reinforcing the sense that the truth is slipping away. Elizabeth remains by his side, though wary.

Upon returning to Fordyke Hall, Elizabeth states that Sir Richard left her only moments before, hinting at manipulation or betrayal. The sense of conspiracy deepens as both begin to doubt the reality of their situation. Sir Richard steels himself to uncover the true culprit.

In a moment of desperation, Sir Richard nearly strangles Elizabeth but stops himself just in time. The near-murder shakes them both and confirms the danger pressing in on the marriage. The couple must confront the possibility of an unseen enemy.

Sir Richard finally uncovers the real culprits and their motives behind the chain of horrific events. However, despite his revelations, another murder takes place, underscoring the inability to fully avert tragedy. The truth comes at a terrible cost.

To force the truth into the open, Sir Richard engages in a vicious swordfight that serves as the climactic confrontation. The duel drives the resolution as the real conspirators are unmasked and the truth is laid bare. The film ends with the consequences of the revelations finally settling in.