InEdinburgh,renownedsurgeonandnowteacherofanatomyDr.MacFarlane,hasbeenpayingJohnGray,acabman,toclandestinelybringhimexhumedbodiesoftherecentlydeceasedforclassroomdemonstrationpurposes.Withcemeteriesbeingincreasinglyguarded,GrayturnstomurdertoprovideMacFarlanewithfreshbodies.RealizingthathewillneverberidofGray,whoconstantlytauntshimwithhisknowledgeofMacFarland'spastindiscretions,MacFarlaneengagesthemalevolentGrayinahand-to-handfighttothedeath,theultimateresultsofwhichprovidethevictorwithanepisodeofunprecedentedpsychologicalhorror.在爱丁堡，前著名外科医生现在是解剖学教师的麦克法兰博士，一直付款给一个叫约翰·格雷的计程车司机，暗中为他挖掘运送最近才死的身体以供教学示范所旧版。随着公墓的保卫措施越来越严密，格雷转而谋杀他人为麦克法兰提供新身体。麦克法兰意识到无法摆脱知道他不检点的过去并以此嘲讽他的格雷，麦克法兰答应恶毒的格雷进行一场短兵相接的对搏，至死方休，最后的结果为获胜者提供一个空前的心理上的惊骇