In 1898, strange things happen in a castle not far from Werst, a small village in the Carpathian mountains of Transylvania. Normally it is twenty years since the lord of the place, baron Rodolphe de Gortz, has abandoned the castle. One day though, Frik, the shepherd, can see smoke coming out of the chimney. All the village is stirred up by the news. People believe Chort, the demon, has returned. Count Franz de Télek, a visitor, intrigued by all this turmoil, decides to investigate...