InEdinburgh,renownedsurgeonandnowteacherofanatomyDr.MacFarlane,hasbeenpayingJohnGray,acabman,toclandestinelybringhimexhumedbodiesoftherecentlydeceasedforclassroomdemonstrationpurposes.Withcemeteriesbeingincreasinglyguarded,GrayturnstomurdertoprovideMacFarlanewithfreshbodies.RealizingthathewillneverberidofGray,whoconstantlytauntshimwithhisknowledgeofMacFarlandspastindiscretions,MacFarlaneengagesthemalevolentGrayinahand-to-handfighttothedeath,theultimateresultsofwhichprovidethevictorwithanepisodeofunprecedentedpsychologicalhorror.在爱丁堡，前著名外科医生现在是解剖学教师的麦克法兰博士，一直付款给一个叫约翰·格雷的计程车司机，暗中为他挖掘运送最近才死的身体以供教学示范所用。
