The idea of a Witch being behind a Witch trial is certainly reminiscent of where DS went with the original 1795 storyline and the respective roles of Trask and Angelique in it...
I'm laughing, though, at the idea of Cotton Mather as this bearded hunk. lol. And what the hell is that person acting like a human dog wearing some kind of archaic muzzle supposed to be about?? Reminds me of the antics at Vincent Price (Prince Prospero)'s court in the 1963 Roger Corman film, MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH.
G.