This story begins in medias res as Potiphar, an immortal Egyptian sorcerer, tells an enslaved Barnabas Collins, "I have lived more than 4000 years! You a mere 200! But today our time in eternity has come! Today I will become master of the sun and lord of all earth!" After six action-packed pages, the unnamed writer's story goes back "only one short month ago" and reveals how Potiphar comes to Collinwood; hypnotizes Quentin, Elizabeth, Roger, Julia, and Stokes; and robs Barnabas of his will.