A researcher visits an asylum near New York to conduct psychological investigations. An employee advises him to see Dr. Farraday, a patient who "knew a great deal about the human soul." The researcher enters Dr. Farraday's room, noticing strange and symbolic drawings on the wall. Dr. Farraday greets him amiably, and they soon immerse in scientific discussion. Suddenly, Dr. Farraday cries out in a different voice that sounds bitter and spiteful. He criticizes the academics and calls them "our modern Devil." He rants that science is inadequate without love. Farraday impressively draws a powerful man standing on an ice rock. He adds a serpent-shaped lightning bolt coming down to bite the man. The men discuss the dangers of man seeing too much. Farraday says that the serpent in the drawing represents the gods and declares that he once laughed at the gods. Farraday then introduces a story of someone he knew and tells the researcher he may find it ludicrous, significant for his science, or personally meaningful.   Farraday describes a man named Trudo, who grew up as a sensitive and isolated child. Trudo's father died, and his mother became harsh because of their poverty. Trudo realized that if he couldn't physically fight others, he could use his mind. He purposely "killed all his feelings" and studied to become a physician and researcher. Without acknowledging it, Farraday begins to speak in the first person and says that his wife's expectations were difficult to accomplish because he had no love in his heart. Farraday boasts that his patients thought him to be a "second Jesus." He attributes this social skill to using love as a weapon for serving his ambition and ego.   Farraday describes when he got symptoms such as heart palpitations and knew that the gods he once laughed at were spiting him. Farraday initially considered giving up his career and wealth but felt unable to and became even colder. He claims this ambition killed his wife, and even then, that did not stop him. Farraday was walking the streets one night when a prostitute named Losha approached him. He felt curious to research the psychology of prostitution. He accompanied her to a lodging house and questioned her until she cried out that he wasn't human but the Devil and "a lost soul."   Farraday told Losha about himself and his life over various visits. On the third, Losha felt sympathy for Farraday. She declared that she loved him and that she was his "lost soul." Farraday experienced an epileptic-like fit that day from his overwhelming sensations. He was bed-ridden for various days with Losha tending to him. Ultimately, Farraday's previous interests, work, and positions were challenged. He married Losha and they opened a stationery shop together. Farraday began to draw and soon felt tormented by undescribed impulses and passions. Losha abruptly died one day, and Farraday checked himself into the asylum after.   After telling his story, Farraday shows the researcher a portrait he made of Losha and begins to cry. He holds the researcher's hands and assures him that he is insane and that sane people live outside the asylum. He muses that people long ago believed the insane were close to the gods, but it is a false belief. The researcher leaves Farraday's room feeling disconcerted.