Outwardly a kind-hearted counsellor of troubled youth, Meldrum is in fact a fervent believer in "divine justice" who freely resorts to emotional abuse in his obsessive efforts to redeem those he views as sinners.

That night, while Jenny is out, Meldrum gains entry to her flat and assaults her friend Robert, believing him to be Terry.

The next day, Meldrum invites Jenny over to his presbytery, which he shares with his frail, bed-bound mother and his housekeeper, Miss Brabazon.

Brabazon consoles Meldrum and says that she has always loved him, even though his mother forced him to call off their wedding and embrace a life of celibacy by entering the church.

Bernard discovers the bodies of Terry and Vanessa and confronts Meldrum, who claims that Brabazon committed the murders out of love for him.