The Monster Walks

Ruth Earlton and her fiancé Dr. Ted Clayton arrive at Ruth's late father's mansion on a stormy night to determine what will happen to the estate. They are greeted by Ruth's invalid uncle Robert, the housekeeper Mrs. Krug, and her son Hanns, whose presence unsettles Ruth. The mood is tense as family and staff assemble to face an unknown future.

While exploring the mansion, Ruth and the others stumble upon a large ape kept in the basement, a remnant of the late father's experiments. The discovery makes Ruth uneasy and hints at a darker history hidden within the house. The ape's presence foreshadows the dangers looming over the estate's fate.

The group learns how the Earlton estate will be divided: Ruth stands to inherit, but if she dies the estate passes to Uncle Robert. Very small monthly sums are left to Mrs. Krug and Hanns, causing resentment among the staff. The financial details braid tension with inheritance drama.

That night, a large hairy hand reaches through Ruth's headboard and attempts to strangle her, but she awakens before it can harm her. The force seems supernatural and unseen, heightening the house's menace. Ruth tells herself she must stay alert as danger closes in.

The unseen hand reappears to strangle Mrs. Krug, killing the housekeeper in Ruth's room. Ruth's night is shattered by another violent act that reveals the intruder's reach extends to everyone nearby. The household reels from the sudden, inexplicable murder.

Ruth awakens and raises the alarm; Ted gives her a sleeping potion to keep her safe for the night. Ruth ends up sleeping in a chair while Mrs. Krug stays to guard her, illustrating the growing fear and the fragility of safety in the mansion. The night deepens with secrets bubbling beneath the surface.

Hanns Krug meets with Robert Earlton in secret, where Robert explains that their plan to murder Ruth has failed. He also reveals that Hanns has accidentally murdered his own mother during the confusion in the house. Hanns blames Robert for the failure, and reveals that Robert is actually his father, setting the stage for further betrayal.

Dr. Clayton visits Robert's room where Robert, regaining consciousness, reveals the details of the plot to Ruth and the cruel twists of Hanns's machinations. Clayton races to warn Ruth that danger continues, now centering on the basement and the ape. The sense of impending doom heightens as the trio heads toward a confrontation.

Hanns drags Ruth to the basement, intending to force the ape to kill her, hoping to clear the path for his own inheritance. The sense of peril intensifies as Ruth is separated from the others and the ape is coerced into violence. The plan unravels as the ape becomes Ruth's unlikely protector instead.

In a grim twist, the ape turns on Hanns, killing him as Hanns tries to force it to attack Ruth. The attempted murder collapses, leaving Ruth in grave danger but still alive. Clayton arrives moments later, already aware of the danger stalking Ruth.

Dr. Clayton arrives to find Ruth alive and well after the ghastly events in the basement. The immediate threat seems to have passed, though the mansion still trembles with the rumors of murder and betrayal. Ruth's survival marks a fragile end to the night's nightmare.

With Ruth safe and the murderous schemes thwarted, the family must reckon with the damage to trust and the estate's uncertain future. The ape's presence and the various betrayals leave a chilling reminder that danger still lingers in the mansion. The film closes on Ruth and Clayton facing an uncertain, fragile peace.