Literary intellectual Ted Beaumont amuses himself by publishing bloody thrillers about the adventures of the killer Machin under the pseudonym George Stark. One day, he decides to break ties with his dark alter ego and even arranges an impromptu funeral for him.

But then George Stark mysteriously materializes, leaves the cemetery, and tries to force Beaumont to continue writing horror novels, even hoping to take his place. His methods of persuasion are similar to those used by “his” favorite character, Machin.