Synopsis

An eccentric old man dies, leaving a will stipulating that his four heirs-two nephews and two nieces-must remain for three nights in the house occupied by him for many years. If any of the heirs refuses, his or her share is to go to those who stayed. If all of them are frightened away, then the property is to be divided between his old secretary and a black servant who is deaf and dumb. Things begin to happen from the moment the heirs put in their appearance, and they keep right on happening until the final curtain. The old secretary is choked to death. The chandelier falls to the floor. A revolver is snatched from the hand of one of the heirs. A leaf, on which is written the name of the next one of the party doomed to die, as announced by a ghostly voice, is torn from the book by an invisible force, and vanishes. A vase in which is deposited a slip with the name of another party destined to die by violence, is mysteriously shattered. The amazing solution comes just a moment before the end of the play, and brings to a conclusion a most enjoyable night's entertainment. However, the tension is relieved at frequent intervals by the injection of splendid comedy.