The Blackness Of Terror by The Hermit’s Cave

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Blackness Of Terror by The Hermit’s Cave

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Horror! (Old Time Radio)
• Host/Author: RelicRadio.com
• Episode: The Blackness Of Terror by The Hermit’s Cave
• Release Date: May 17, 2025
• Description: Dive into spine-chilling tales from Old Time Radio, exploring ghost stories, monsters, and the unexplained. This episode, "The Blackness Of Terror," takes listeners through a gripping narrative filled with mystery, terror, and dark family secrets.

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Introduction

In the episode titled "The Blackness Of Terror," RelicRadio.com's The Horror! series transports listeners back to the golden age of radio with a haunting tale from "The Hermit’s Cave." This story, originally aired in 1947, unfolds the eerie events surrounding the Lane family at their estate, Blue Acres. The narrative weaves together themes of love, betrayal, madness, and supernatural phenomena, culminating in a revelation that ties the family's tragic history to the present terror.

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Background and Setting

The story is set in the opulent Blue Acres estate, a grand residence filled with priceless treasures and maintained meticulously by Marlene Lane and her father, Terence Lane. Marlene's life has been one of isolation, sheltered from the outside world, especially after her mother mysteriously left the family years prior. The serenity of Blue Acres forms the backdrop against which the horror and mystery of the tale unfold.

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Main Characters

1. Marlene Lane: The protagonist, a young woman deeply devoted to her father and yearning for love beyond her sheltered existence.
2. Terence Lane (Papa): Marlene's father, a wealthy and conservative man with a dark secret.
3. Paul Wilde: Marlene's suitor, whose arrival at Blue Acres marks the beginning of the unfolding mystery.
4. Dr. Lorre: The family physician, whose involvement becomes pivotal in unraveling the family's dark past.
5. Mrs. Eaton: The loyal housekeeper who assists during Terence's illness.

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Plot Summary

1. The Mysterious Telegram ([02:40])

One week prior to the main events, Marlene and her husband Paul receive a telegram concerning Marlene's father, Terence Lane. Marlene expresses her profound distress:

Marlene Lane: "I have learned the results of the blackness of terror, the hideousness of sin and the horror of madness." ([02:40])

This telegram sparks a series of unsettling events, emphasizing Terence's unexpected illness and the facade of their seemingly perfect life.

2. Marlene's Isolated Upbringing ([05:30])/([06:31])

Marlene reflects on her mother's sudden departure years earlier with Philip Cort, a man deemed unsuitable by the townspeople. Her father's subsequent overprotectiveness led to a secluded life at Blue Acres, surrounded by treasures and insulated from societal interactions. This isolation plays a crucial role in setting the stage for the ensuing horror.

Marlene Lane: "We remained aloof from the world." ([05:30])

3. Arrival of Paul Wilde ([08:00])

Paul Wilde, Marlene's husband, arrives at Blue Acres. His charm and romantic overtures contrast sharply with the rigid environment imposed by Terence. Their blossoming romance, however, incites tension with Terence, hinting at underlying familial conflicts.

Paul Wilde: "No princess was ever quite so fair or lovely as you." ([08:20])

4. Terence's Illness and Mysterious Fear ([13:06] - [15:38])

Terence falls gravely ill, exhibiting symptoms of intense fear and paranoia. Dr. Lorre investigates, noting:

Dr. Lorre: "I don't know. Your father is suffering from some terrible fear that I'm inclined to think is nothing to do with his fear of dying." ([14:52])

Marlene witnesses her father's terrifying condition, where his eyes dart wildly, and he mutters incomprehensible sounds, heightening the suspense and mystery.

5. Unseen Horrors and Discoveries ([16:29] - [21:46])

As night falls, both Marlene and Paul experience eerie phenomena—moans and movements attributed to unseen spirits. Their investigation leads them to discover a hidden passage and, ultimately, a locked chest containing human skeletons. The chilling discovery reveals the presence of another room, suggesting foul play.

Marlene Lane: "Someone's been pushed into this chest and it's been locked against them." ([21:36])

6. Revelation of Terence's Dark Secret ([22:18] - [23:41])

Dr. Lorre uncovers evidence pointing to Terence's culpability. The presence of arsenic in Terence's desk and the skeletons of Marlene's mother and Philip Cort indicate that Terence murdered them out of jealousy and possessiveness.

Dr. Lorre: "Your father was an insanely jealous man, Marlene." ([23:03])

Terence's madness and the unspeakable acts he committed underlie the terror that now haunts him, manifesting as ghostly apparitions accusing him of his crimes.

7. Aftermath and Haunting ([24:58] - [25:55])

Following the revelation, Marlene and Paul decide to leave Blue Acres, seeking peace away from the tormented father. However, Terence's ghost continues to plague the estate, symbolizing the inescapable nature of his guilt and the enduring impact of his actions.

The Hermit: "Terence Lane has learned during these last hours the blackness. The awful blackness of terror." ([24:58])

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Key Themes and Insights

1. Isolation and Madness: Terence's secluded life contributes to his descent into madness, illustrating how isolation can exacerbate existing psychological issues.
2. Jealousy and Possession: Terence's extreme possessiveness over his family leads to tragic consequences, highlighting the destructive nature of unchecked jealousy.
3. The Supernatural as Manifestation of Guilt: The ghostly apparitions serve as physical manifestations of Terence's internal torments and unresolved guilt.
4. Love and Sacrifice: Marlene's love for Paul leads her to defy her father's control, showcasing the struggle between familial duty and personal happiness.
5. Revelation and Redemption: The uncovering of Terence's crimes brings a sense of closure and the possibility of redemption for both Terence and Marlene.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Marlene Lane: "I have learned the results of the blackness of terror, the hideousness of sin and the horror of madness." ([02:40])
• Paul Wilde: "No princess was ever quite so fair or lovely as you." ([08:20])
• Dr. Lorre: "I don't know. Your father is suffering from some terrible fear that I'm inclined to think is nothing to do with his fear of dying." ([14:52])
• Marlene Lane: "Someone's been pushed into this chest and it's been locked against them." ([21:36])
• Dr. Lorre: "Your father was an insanely jealous man, Marlene." ([23:03])
• The Hermit: "Terence Lane has learned during these last hours the blackness. The awful blackness of terror." ([24:58])

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Conclusion

"The Blackness Of Terror" masterfully combines elements of classic horror with psychological thriller aspects, creating a narrative that is both engaging and unsettling. Through its intricate plot and well-developed characters, the story explores the depths of human emotion and the supernatural, leaving listeners with lingering questions about the nature of guilt, redemption, and the enduring impact of our darkest actions. RelicRadio.com's reimagining of this 1947 radio episode not only preserves the timeless essence of old-time radio horror but also offers a compelling reminder of how certain fears transcend time.

Transcript

[The Hermit]

Oh, stories.

[Paul Wilde]

Real stories.

[Marlene Lane]

And murders too. Turn out your legs.

[Dr. Lorre]

Turn them out. Good evening. Come in, won't you? What's the matter? Surely you're not nervous for that to be calm by drinking.

[Marlene Lane]

We are meant.

[Narrator]

To call from out of the past.

[Marlene Lane]

Stories, strange and weird.

[Dr. Lorre]

Tales of mystery and terror by radio's.

[Narrator]

Masters of the maa.

[Paul Wilde]

Stories of the supernatural, the supernormal dramatized fantasy.

[Dr. Lorre]

The mystery of the unknown.

[Paul Wilde]

We tell you this.

[Marlene Lane]

Frank. Frank.

[Dr. Lorre]

So if you wish to avoid the excitement tension of these magnets.

[Marlene Lane]

Play.

[Dr. Lorre]

Ladies, we urge you our latest seriously to turn off your radio.

[Host]

Welcome back to the Horror Old fashioned fear since [e-mail] Our story comes from the Hermit's Cave. This week, a series that debuted in 1936, aired until 1947 over Detroit's WJR radio station, produced over 500 episodes. There was also a West coast run from 1940 to 1944. Our story today is from April 6, 1947. It's titled the Blackness of Terror.

[Paul Wilde]

The Mummers in the Little Theater of the Air.

[Narrator]

Now the Hermit.

[The Hermit]

Ghost Story. Weird stories. Murders too. The Hermit knows of them all. Turn out your lights. Turn them out.

[Marlene Lane]

Ah.

[The Hermit]

Have you heard the story? The Likeness of Terror. Then listen while the Hermit tells you the story.

[Marlene Lane]

It was one week ago today that Paul and I received a telegram about Papa. And since that hour, my life, my thoughts, my feelings have been deeply altered. I have learned the results of the blackness of terror, the hideousness of sin and the horror of madness. On Wednesday last, about 10pm A telegram was delivered to me. Who on earth can be sending me a wire?

[Paul Wilde]

Who else but your father? But the Power is called before you open it. We're not going to Blue Acres this weekend. We haven't had one weekend to ourselves since we were married.

[Marlene Lane]

Oh, Paul. It is Papa.

[Narrator]

I knew it.

[Marlene Lane]

No, you don't understand. Here.

[Paul Wilde]

Your father's seriously ill. Suggest you come at once, Dr. Lorre.

[Marlene Lane]

Papa. Papa.

[Paul Wilde]

Now, take it easy, Marlene.

[Marlene Lane]

He's never been ill a day in his life.

[Paul Wilde]

Your father's getting along in years, darling. You can't expect him not to have some bad days.

[Marlene Lane]

But Dr. Lorre says seriously he'll. And he's usually terribly conservative. We must start at once. Oh, please understand me. I love my husband Paul very much. But up until the time I married, I had never left my father's side. We'd been inseparable ever since that dreadful morning when, as a little girl of eight years, my papa had taken me on his lap. And after kissing me Tenderly and brushing the curls back from my forehead, he.

[Narrator]

Had said, little Darl, your papa has something very sad to tell you. But you must be very brave, my darling. Your mother has left us, has written this note to inform us to Terence and Marlene.

[Terence Lane]

Life here at Blueacres has grown intolerable for me. You're a little child, Marlene, and therefore I cannot explain some things to you. But Terence will know why I'm leaving. My little girl, try to think kindly of your mother. I would take you with me if I could, but that is impossible just now. Your father is a wealthy man and he can give you fine things. I know at Lew Acres you will grow up to be a lady of whom I shall always be proud and a daughter whom I will love forever.

[Narrator]

Do not cry, my little doll. Had your mother loved you, she would never have left you. From this day forward, there'll be no mention of her name in this house. To us she is dead.

[Marlene Lane]

It was some years later that I learned that my beautiful mother had left Papa and me and had run away with Philip Cort, a chat the townspeople said was a worthless, dobbering pain. Nothing was ever heard of my mother or him after they left the wake up. Nor did my father, Terence Lane, ever mention her name. He devoted his life to me. I had private tutors that came to Blueacres to instruct me. The very best. Papa imported a master of the piano to teach me. We remained aloof from the world. The only woman in the household beside myself was Mrs. Beaton. Father always did the cleaning of the house. For Blueacres is filled with priceless treasures. And when I would laugh at him dusting, he would always remark.

[Narrator]

Can't let her clumsy fingers touch this vase. It's worth a thousand dollars if it's worth a penny.

[Marlene Lane]

The years moved on and I lived in a world of my father's creation. Until this last summer when I was 21 years old. One glorious summer night when the moon made golden patterns on the terraced lawns of Blueacres and the waters of the colored fountains entered in the ground, shot a million rainbow lights into the night. When the French doors of the music room were opened wide to let the cool night air into. I sat at the piano playing the works of one of my favorite composers, Debussy. Papa was not fond of Debussy, and as soon as I began playing, he got up from his chair and went to his study. But the haunting melancholy of Debussy suited me. It was a background to my dreaming and the somehow lonely feeling of My heart that was growing stronger as the years wore on. With only Papa for my companion, I went on playing. And then suddenly I was aware of the presence of another in the room. I felt it strongly even before I turned around.

[Paul Wilde]

Please go on. It's beautiful. Suited to a night like this. Please.

[Marlene Lane]

I'm sorry, but I.

[Paul Wilde]

Don't be sorry. I'm the one who owes you an apology for my intrusion. I'm Paul Wilde. I'm spending my vacation at the Truesdales to live down the roadways.

[Marlene Lane]

Oh, yes.

[Paul Wilde]

They told me there was a princess living at Blue Acres. But they didn't do you justice, young lady. No princess was ever quite so fair or lovely as you.

[Marlene Lane]

Please, Mr. Wilde.

[Paul Wilde]

The truesdale's also added that a dragon named Terence Lane guards the Princess Marlene with his life.

[Marlene Lane]

That was very unjust.

[Paul Wilde]

Really? Well then, if you're not zealously guarded, how about taking a stroll with me? The night is wonderful. And if you're good, I'll reach up and pick you a necklace of stars to wear.

[Marlene Lane]

I'm sorry, Mr. Wilde.

[Paul Wilde]

You won't go? It's late and Papa would object?

[Marlene Lane]

No.

[Paul Wilde]

Well then, with your kind permission, I'll call tomorrow afternoon to gain his consent for a date tomorrow night. Do I have your permission?

[Marlene Lane]

Well, yes.

[Paul Wilde]

Fine. Then do something for me now, will you?

[Marlene Lane]

If I can.

[Paul Wilde]

Play something for me as I walk away. Shall we have something light and joyous this time? Something more in tune with the happiness in store for you and me. I'll be listening for our theme song.

[Marlene Lane]

Paul. Paul Wilde. Only those deeply in love can understand what I mean when I say it was adoration on sight. I knew that from that second until eternity there would be none other for me than Paul. And true to his word, he was at Blueacres the next afternoon asking father's consent for an evening with him. I didn't hear their conversation, but I did hear from Papa.

[Narrator]

Later, my dear. I'm an old man, wise in the ways of the world. I've spent my entire life protecting you from the vulgar of this world. The worthless. And I protected your mother more carefully. And there would have been the scandal in this house caused by her treacherous act. I have already called into the city this Paul Wilde. Nothing but a simple clerk with poor wages.

[Marlene Lane]

Is there never to be anyone for me?

[Narrator]

Of course, when the time comes. But this is not the time.

[Marlene Lane]

I had never disobeyed my father. But I did so that night I sent Paul a note. And we met at midnight in the garden. The break my molly Say it again, Paul. It sounds so wonderful. I've never had anyone but Papa. Take my name with love, my Marlene.

[Paul Wilde]

I have a lifetime of love to give you. A heart bursting with love for you. Do you love me, my darling?

[Marlene Lane]

Oh, yes, Pa. Say it. I love you. Oh, I love you.

[Paul Wilde]

And now say this. I love you enough to leave Blue Acres and marry you.

[Marlene Lane]

Paul, I love you enough to leave. Oh, Paula, I can't. I can't do that to Papa.

[Paul Wilde]

Must you give up your life to him?

[Marlene Lane]

No. But to leave him as Mother did.

[Paul Wilde]

Then will you let me go out of your life?

[Marlene Lane]

No. No. There were other surreptitious meetings. There were arguments, persuasion, protestations. But in the end, love won out. Paul and I ran away and were married. I will never forget the following day when Paul and I returned to faith.

[Narrator]

Father, what is done cannot be undone.

[Marlene Lane]

Papa, you forgive me?

[Narrator]

Yes, I forgive you.

[Marlene Lane]

Oh, Papa Paul. Isn't he wonderful?

[Narrator]

You are the love of my life. And if Paul realizes this, he will not keep you absent from me for any long periods of time.

[Marlene Lane]

Of course not, Papa. Blue Acres will continue to be our home. That I hadn't reckoned with Paul when I made the statement he would not quit work and live at Blue Acres off Papa's Bounty, as he called it. So for the time being, we've been spending weekends at Blue Acres. At this moment, I felt a little resentful that Paul had taken me away from Papa. We arrived at blue acres and Mrs. Eaton opened the door to us just as dawn was grating over Blue Acres.

[Mrs. Eaton]

Oh, at last you've arrived. Come in, Papa. Your father's a very sick man.

[Paul Wilde]

What is it, Mrs. Needle?

[Mrs. Eaton]

I think, Ms. Marlene, you should let Dr. Lorry explain.

[Marlene Lane]

Oh, yeah.

[Paul Wilde]

I'll take the luggage upstairs.

[Marlene Lane]

I'll go to Father.

[Mrs. Eaton]

You'll find him in his study. Doctor had a bed set up in there where it's easier for me to care for him. Besides, he seems more content there.

[Marlene Lane]

Hasn't Dr. Laurie gotten a nurse for Papa?

[Mrs. Eaton]

We tried it, but he wouldn't have one. We'd better knock on the door. Doctor's in there with him now.

[Marlene Lane]

Come in, Papa. I ran across the room to my father's bed. I looked down at him and then in dismay at Dr. Lorry. For my father's face was a horrible sight, twisted and pulled out of shape. And his eyes, his burning eyes, they were staring at me wildly. I. I reached out for his hand, cried out to him, Papa. What is it, Dr. Lori?

[Paul Wilde]

Stroke.

[Marlene Lane]

Oh, Papa, don't worry. Dr. Lori will get you well again. Can you hear my voice?

[Dr. Lorre]

I'm not quite sure this morning, but I think so. He does know who you are. Come outside with me, Marlene. I want to talk to you.

[Marlene Lane]

I'm going in the drawing room, Papa, to talk to Dr. Lorre. I'll be right back and then I won't leave. I won't leave until you're well again. Come. The drawing room, Doctor. I should never have left him.

[Dr. Lorre]

Fiddlesticks. You did the right thing, but my.

[Marlene Lane]

Marriage has brought this on. He loved me so. And I love him. He's been lost with me gone.

[Dr. Lorre]

Marlene, I. Dr. Laurie.

[Marlene Lane]

His eye.

[Dr. Lorre]

Yes, my dear. I was just about to talk to you of this.

[Marlene Lane]

What is it?

[Dr. Lorre]

I wish I knew. Your father is suffering from some terrible fear that I'm inclined to think is nothing to do with his fear of dying.

[Marlene Lane]

Has he said anything about it?

[Dr. Lorre]

He can't speak. Only the guttural sound you heard. He can't write. He can't lift his hands.

[Marlene Lane]

How dreadful.

[Dr. Lorre]

What that fear is, I don't know. I've watched with him nights, and it appears that whatever causes his wild fear is worse then.

[Marlene Lane]

Poor Papa.

[Dr. Lorre]

As soon as office hours are over this evening, I'll drive out here to Blue Acres. Perhaps between the two of us, we'll be able to discover what causes his distress and be able to help him.

[Marlene Lane]

It filled my heart with sorrow to see my father suffering such pain and discomfort. And the look in his eyes, the mad, wild look, was almost more than I could bear at last. Night came. I rejoiced when I heard Mrs. Eaton usher, Dr. Laurie, in. He and I sat by Father's bed while the heavy minutes ticked past. There seemed to be no change in his condition. But as night wore on, and it was fast reaching midnight, there was a change in his eyes. The fear in them was so marked that I trembled from it.

[Dr. Lorre]

Dr. Lorre said, do you see his eyes?

[Marlene Lane]

Yes.

[Dr. Lorre]

It says if he sees something we don't see.

[Marlene Lane]

Yes, it was so. His eyes seemed to be riveted on the door to his study. And it was then that I thought I heard a low moan. What was that?

[Dr. Lorre]

I don't know.

[Marlene Lane]

It didn't come from Father?

[Dr. Lorre]

No. But look at him now.

[Marlene Lane]

Now Father's eyes were trained in closer to his bed. He was struggling, attempting to lift his hand. It was very plain to me, and I cried out, doctor, there's some unseen thing standing over Papa's bed.

[Dr. Lorre]

That is the way I diagnose it. There is something unseen to us. But clearly seen by your father.

[Marlene Lane]

And look, the bed clothes are moving, but he's not touching them. What is it, Dr. Laurie? What is it?

[The Hermit]

An unseen spirit, eh? Witnessed only by the die. What does Lawrence Terrence Lane see? What causes him to fear so mightily? The hermit will tell you before the night is dead.

[Marlene Lane]

D.

[Narrator]

And now the hermit will continue.

[The Hermit]

Only a few minutes have passed, but Marleene, in her anxiety to aid her father in his terrible fear, only makes matters more difficult. Now it appears that the dying man wishes his beloved daughter out of the room too. And so Paul, the husband of Marlene, with his arms about a lead from the room, guides her into the music room, where she sinks into a chair, sobbing softly. Listen.

[Paul Wilde]

Darling, if you get overwrought ill, you won't be able to help your father.

[Marlene Lane]

Oh, Paul, it's so dreadful. I tell you, papa sees things there in his room. Some vision that frightened him. I saw the bed clothes move and papa wasn't touching them.

[Paul Wilde]

Please, dear, try to control your nerves. Shall I have Mrs. Eaton make you some tea? It'll help soothe you. I'll be right back, darling. Only take a second.

[Marlene Lane]

Paul went into the kitchen. I sat trying to get a hold of myself. It was only a few minutes after he'd left the room. Once again I was aware of the same sound I had heard in father's room. The sound that had made his eyes turn mad with the terror of it. Was I too, losing my mind? What was the answer to this strange phenomenon? A sound that to my ears was exactly like that of a woman moaning. At first it was close to me in the music room, and then it grew fainter, but still distinct. And though it's difficult to believe, there was a second when I felt as if something had brushed past my chair, had touched my shoulder. I cried out for Paul. Paul.

[Paul Wilde]

Paul, what is it? I'm right here.

[Marlene Lane]

Paul. Listen. Do you hear a strange sound?

[Paul Wilde]

What sort of a sound?

[Marlene Lane]

A sound like a woman moaning. No, I heard it distinctly. You listen.

[Paul Wilde]

You drink this tea and forget about such things.

[Marlene Lane]

Please, Paul, Quiet now. Do you hear? By George, you do hear it.

[Paul Wilde]

Some unusual sound.

[Marlene Lane]

Where is it coming from?

[Dr. Lorre]

I don't know.

[Marlene Lane]

There it is again.

[Dr. Lorre]

Yeah.

[Narrator]

So?

[Paul Wilde]

It seems to be coming from these walls of the music room.

[Marlene Lane]

That's it.

[Paul Wilde]

Or from out on a terrace.

[Marlene Lane]

It's nearer than that.

[Paul Wilde]

Here in this wall behind the piano?

[Marlene Lane]

Yes. Why are you feeling the walls?

[Paul Wilde]

This panel here, look.

[Marlene Lane]

It's. Why the panel that opened. I've lived here all my life and I never knew.

[Paul Wilde]

An inner room in here.

[Marlene Lane]

You can hear them moaning from here. Much closer.

[Paul Wilde]

Marlene, get the candle from the piano. I'm going to look around in here.

[Marlene Lane]

Here. Paul.

[Paul Wilde]

This passage in here must lead to another room in the house.

[Marlene Lane]

I'm coming with you.

[Paul Wilde]

And the moaning we heard was from someone in the adjoining room. From here.

[Marlene Lane]

Paul, Wait here. Look.

[Paul Wilde]

What is it?

[Marlene Lane]

This enormous chest. Listen. Quick. There's someone inside this chest.

[Paul Wilde]

I believe you're right.

[Marlene Lane]

Hurry. They'll smother to death. Yeah.

[Paul Wilde]

It's locked.

[Marlene Lane]

Locked? Someone's been pushed into this chest and it's been locked against them. Hurry. Can't you break it open? I'm going to try.

[Paul Wilde]

That a lock is getting now.

[Marlene Lane]

What happened to.

[Dr. Lorre]

Not one skeleton, Paul? Two.

[Paul Wilde]

Two.

[Dr. Lorre]

I'm going to take this chest into Terence Lane's room. When I question him and show him what we've found in his secret hiding place, no doubt we'll have the answer to our tragedy and our riddle.

[Marlene Lane]

When confronted with the test and the skeletons of human beings found in it. When asked questions by Dr. Lorre that Papa could answer by a nod of his head, we found the solution to the mystery of Blue Acre. Yes, the skeletons were those of Philip Court and my mother. My father had killed them before they ever got away from the house. The night mother intended to leave him, Dr. Laurie filled in many blank spaces in the life of my mother and father.

[Dr. Lorre]

Your father was an insanely jealous man, Marlene. He would allow her no friends. He even went to the city alone and bought her gowns for her. He would allow no one to look upon her. He hated me because I attended her at your birth. I was surprised when he allowed you to get away from him and marry Paul. But I figured that out now.

[Paul Wilde]

What do you mean, Doctor?

[Dr. Lorre]

I found a large quantity of arsenic in his desk.

[Paul Wilde]

Great heaven.

[Dr. Lorre]

I'm sure it was his intention to do away with you, Paul. Then once again he could have marleened to himself.

[Marlene Lane]

Take me away, Paul. Paul and I left Blueacres next morning. Terrence Lane. My father is still living. Mrs. Eaton cares for him. I haven't been out since that horrible night when the moaning of my mother's spirit led me to her grave. But we will go out this weekend if he's still living. Paul says I can never be happy unless I forgive him. Besides, the eyes of my father show madness the evening after darkness gathers. And so we know he is tortured enough. Each night he must see the spirit of my mother standing over his bed accusing him of his crime of double murder.

[The Hermit]

Yes, Terrence Lane lies, suffering for his guilt, unable to speak to those who stand beside him. And in the night time, a vision of a woman appears before him. The vision of one whom he murdered because of his insane jealousy. Yes, Terence Lane has learned during these last hours the blackness. The awful blackness of terror. Turn on your lights. Turn them on. I'll be back there and dream.

[Narrator]

All characters, places and occurrences mentioned in the Hermit's Cave are fictitious. And similarity to persons, places or occurrences is purely accidental.

[Host]

There's more from the Hermit's Cave, the Horror and all of the Relic Radio shows at the website relicradio.com to find our shoutcast stream there as well with even more old time radio lots to listen to, all made possible by your support. If you'd like to help out, Visit donate relic radio.com or click on one of the links on the website. Your support makes all of this possible. Thanks to those who have helped out. Thanks for joining me this week. Be back tomorrow with Strange Tales and next Saturday with our next episode of the Horror.