CURSE OF THE CRIMSON ALTAR

Antiques dealer Robert Manning (Eden) searches for his brother, who was last known to have visited the remote house of Craxted Lodge at Greymarsh, their family's ancestral town. Arriving at night, he finds a party is in progress, and he is invited to stay by Eve (Wetherell), the niece of the owner of the house. His sleep is restless and strange dreams of ritual sacrifice disturb him.

Enquiring about his brother, Peter, he is assured by the house owner, Morley (Lee), that the man is not there. Manning's suspicions are aroused by nightmarish hallucinations. Occult expert Professor Marsh (Karloff) informs Manning about a witchcraft cult led by Morley's ancestor, Lavinia (Steele). With the vicar's help the cult is discovered to still be active.

In an effort to kill both Robert and the modern and righteous Lavinia, Morley sets fire to Craxted Lodge but is trapped on the roof. He is actually the head of the cult, the ancestral witch Lavinia, who, laughing at the bystanders, is consumed in the flames.