Lady Frances Carfax, an independent aristocratic young woman, goes missing on holiday having dismissed her maid. Watson, later joined by Holmes, investigate a burly follower of the lady but he turns out to be an old flame, Philip Green ,who is anxious to rekindle his acquaintance with Lady Frances. The trail leads back to London and 'Dr. Shlessinger' a jewel thief masquerading as a holy man, from whom Holmes manage to save Lady Frances suffering a macabre fate.