Simon Cordier, a French magistrate and amateur sculptor comes into contact with a malevolent entity. The invisible – yet corporeal – being, called a “horla” is capable of limited psychokinesis and complete mind control.

American pilot Cliff Brandon, fighting the Japanese in China, finds himself the unintentional “owner” of a Chinese housekeeper, Shu-Jen. The unlikely couple falls in love and marries, but not without tragedy brought on by the war.