JohnEllman(BorisKarloff)hasbeenframedformurderbyagangofracketeers.Heisunfairlytriedanddespitethefactthathisinnocencehasbeenproven,heissenttotheelectricchairandexecuted.Dr.EvanBeaumont(EdmundGwenn)retrieveshisdeadbodyandrevivesit,aspartofhisexperimentstoreanimateadeadbodyanddiscoverwhathappenstothesoulafterdeath.Dr.Beaumont'suseofamechanicalhearttorevivethepatientforeshadowsmodernmedicine'smechanicalhearttokeeppatientsaliveduringsurgery.AlthoughJohnEllmanhasnodirectknowledgeofanyonewishingtoframehimforthemurderbeforeheisexecuted,hegainsaninnatesenseofknowingthosewhoareresponsibleafterheisrevived.Ellmantakesnodirectactionagainsthisframers;however,heseeksthemout,wishingtoknowwhytheyhadhimkilled.Eachdiesahorribledeath,andintheenditistheirownguiltthatcausestheirdeaths.Confrontingthelasttwovillains,Ellmanisshot.Havingfulfilledhisdivinemissiontobringaboutjustice,hedies,justbeforehewouldhaveexplaineddeathandtheafterlifetothecuriousDr.Beaumont.Beaumontiswarnednottocontinuehisexperiments,citingtheBiblicalScripture,"FortheLORDthyGodisajealousGod(Deut.6:15a)."