The Shadow of the Cat

Late at night, Ella Venable is murdered in her manor by Andrew the butler, in collusion with Walter and Clara. Tabitha the tabby cat witnesses the murder. The conspirators decide to kill Tabitha to prevent discovery.

Walter coerces Ella to sign a will that leaves everything to him. The original will, which would have left Walter nothing, remains hidden in the attic. The threat of the contrived estate drives the motive for later actions.

Inspector Rowles and newspaper man Michael Latimer arrive to investigate Ella's disappearance and the murder. They begin interviewing staff and family members while examining the house for clues. Suspicion grows around the household dynamics and hidden motives.

Walter invites his wife's niece, Beth Venable, to stay at the house, worried she might question the will. Beth and Michael Latimer share a past and gradually grow closer. The investigation deepens the tension as secrets begin to surface.

Walter has a mishap in the structurally unsound attic while searching for Ella's will. He encounters Tabitha, and the shock triggers a fatal heart attack. He is left bedridden, unable to continue the hunt himself.

With Walter incapacitated, he invites his brother Edgar, Jacob and his wife Louise to help locate the original will and to kill Tabitha. They set a cage trap with mice to capture the cat and plan to dispose of her. The plot marks a turning point toward a deeper conspiracy.

The conspirators capture Tabitha in a trap and place her in a sack. They send Andrew to drown her, but the sack isn't tied tight, and Tabitha escapes when he dumps it into the swamp. Andrew falls into the swamp and drowns.

Frightened by the sight of Tabitha, Clara slips and falls down the stairs, dying in the manor. The fear surrounding the cat widens the circle of suspicion. Michael and Beth begin to see Tabitha as a key to the mystery.

Jacob continues to search the attic for Ella's will but grows wary that Walter may not keep his bargain. He decides to turn on his uncle and aligns with the others to protect himself. Tabitha's presence continues to disrupt their plans.

Walter, when he sees Tabitha in his room, suffers a second fatal heart attack. The will, now discovered, leaves everything to Edgar. Beth and Michael begin to suspect Edgar's gain as motive.

Beth, Michael, and Inspector Rowles accuse the surviving villains of conspiracy. Edgar assumes ownership of the manor and orders them off the property. The tension escalates as the truth of the plot edges closer to exposure.

Tabitha leads the police to Ella's body buried in the swamp, finally revealing the truth. The original will leaves everything to Beth, resolving the inheritance dispute in her favor. Beth declares she will leave the house and asks Michael to take her away.

The manor is sold and Tabitha watches from the courtyard as a new family moves in. The grandfather jokes about dying of boredom, while the others discuss changing the old will. Tabitha remains a quiet witness to the events that unfolded.