In 1670, Beningbrough Hall, owned by the financially troubled Earle family, becomes the center of a dark plot involving treachery and murder. Mr. Earle, a Roman Catholic, is in London, leaving his housekeeper, Marian, and steward, Philip Laurie, in charge. When Earle secretly returns with an accomplice to remove valuables in anticipation of arrest for treason, Marian assists them, trusting the gamekeeper, Martin Giles, to hide the items. Laurie, suspicious and resentful, confronts Marian about the missing valuables. Their argument escalates, revealing Laurie's malicious intent. He conspires with a disreputable laborer, Vasey, to murder Marian and rob Giles. As Marian walks in the evening, she is ambushed and killed by Vasey, who pushes her into the river. The next day, her body is discovered, and suspicion falls on Giles due to his connection with Marian. While the servants suspect Giles, Laurie and Vasey plot to rob the gamekeeper's cottage. However, Giles, alert and grieving, defends himself against Vasey, capturing him. Laurie, present but not implicated, manages to maintain his facade. Vasey is arrested, and as tensions rise, Mrs. Earle arrives, dismissing Laurie due to his suspicious behavior. Desperate, Laurie attempts to coerce Mrs. Earle into taking him with her as she plans to flee to France. When she refuses, he attempts to kill her but fails and subsequently takes his own life. Vasey, facing execution, confesses the entire plot, leading to his hanging. The story concludes with a haunting legend of Marian's ghost, said to wander the banks of the Ouse, forever tied to the tragic events that unfolded at Beningbrough Hall.
By Sabine Baring-Gould · First published 1892 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Tragedy