The man undergoes some strange changes, which may or may not have something to do with the house's first owner, a woman who was hanged under suspicion of being a witch.

This occurs on the insistence of witnesses who see children acting strangely after eating rye bread.

Kim is introduced to the brilliant scientist Edward Armstrong by their mutual friend Stanton Lewis.

In the basement of the old house, Edward finds a new strain of Claviceps purpurea which induces a great sense of calmness, sexual drive, confidence, etc.

Edward's Jack Russell dog notably falls victim to the mysterious killer.

In the epilogue, Kim visits Edward who is a resident at a medical facility, where he still has the strain in him and therefore transforms into a man with raging episodes.