Summary
Highlights
Chapter 1: The Gift Bestowed00:00:08
Professor Redlaw, a learned but gloomy chemist, lives a solitary existence in an ancient, haunted building. He is approached by a ghostly apparition of himself, which offers to erase his painful memories of sorrow and wrong, promising him happiness in exchange. Redlaw accepts the bargain, unaware that he will inadvertently spread this curse of forgetfulness to everyone he encounters.
Chapter 2: The Gift Diffused01:08:49
The effects of Redlaw's curse begin to manifest in the lives of those around him, including the Tetterby family and a sick student named Edmund. As people lose their capacity to remember their troubles, they also lose their ability to feel empathy, love, and the tender connections forged through shared hardship, turning them cold and indifferent.
Chapter 3: The Gift Reversed02:57:05
Realizing the devastating impact of his gift, Redlaw is overcome with remorse. Through the influence of Millie, the kind-hearted wife of the college keeper, and the power of love and forgiveness, Redlaw seeks to reverse the curse. He learns that the memory of sorrow, while painful, is essential for human compassion, and he ultimately finds redemption.