Joey, it still would have been interesting if they had. But DC somehow got his hands on H. P. Lovecraft's Leviathan stories, and the rest is history. *sigh* But as always, I do like how the writers set up the story for us.
Welcome back, Dennis Patrick and Marie Wallace! And welcome, Christopher Bernau!
Poor Julia has been waiting patiently for Barn to re-materialize. Carolyn tells her that sometimes Chris Jennings seems like two different people. Julia makes a noncommittal reply, then Carolyn takes her to the "divine" antique shop in town, where she introduces Julia to the proprietors, Megan and Philip Todd. (Unfortunately, Philip is wearing a maroon self-belted turtleneck sweater and gray windowpane plaid trousers, but after all it was 1969.)
Julia is amazed to find that one of the Todds' new items is a landscape by Charles Delaware Tate, painted 20 years ago. Julia’s amazement increases at the thought that Charles Delaware Tate, in his late twenties in 1897, went on painting for another fifty years. (Presumably Petofi had no chance to withdraw his gift of talent before Garth Blackwood attacked him and started the fire.) Philip draws her attention to the lack of age crackling in the glaze; the subject is modern, but the canvas is not. Since Tate would be about a hundred years old if he is still alive, he was in control of his faculties in his eighties, Philip comments. It’s not inconceivable that he could still be alive, Julia observes. Philip says he found the painting at the Anderson auction house in Rockport, and will sell it to Julia for three hundred dollars. Julia promptly fishes out her checkbook while Carolyn watches in surprise. Once they leave, Megan and Philip have Champagne to celebrate their first big sale. (In 1969 dollars, it would have been a significant one.)
Julia phones the Anderson auction house. They tell her the painting was part of the estate of Matthew Smith. There were no other Tate paintings, but someone else tried to buy hers. She asks who, but we don’t know what answer she gets. After she hangs up, she thinks to herself. I must find out if Tate is still alive. Somehow the portrait of Quentin saved him from the werewolf curse. If Tate is still alive, he may be able to help Chris Jennings.
Walking through the woods, Carolyn comes on the cairn-altar with its snake-carved stele. What is it? she asks herself, Where did it come from? No one could have built it without the family’s knowledge. The stranger steps into the clearing, startling her. We can now see that he has gray hair and a gray mustache. He is somewhere in his fifties, trim, and still fine looking. Courteously he takes off his hat to speak to her and promises not to harm her. Carolyn is frightened, more so when she recognizes him as the stranger from the Old House. He moves to the opposite end of the altar and promises to stay there. What do you want? Carolyn asks. I’m not sure, he replies. Haughtily, Carolyn tells him, You’re trespassing on Collins property. I advise you to leave. Are you a Collins? he asks, and she introduces herself as Carolyn Collins Stoddard. The heiress of Collinwood, she has almost unlimited wealth and power at her command. Her assured, regal bearing is very like her mother’s; her golden hair cascades down her shoulders and back in a long, shining fall. The stranger stares at this lovely young woman, speechless, even when Carolyn addresses him once or twice. Gazing at her with a strange fondness, he recovers and tells her, You’re a very beautiful woman. Carolyn refuses to be flattered and orders him to leave. Not the least offended, he replies, And I like your attitude. You know what is yours. I would be willing to wager that you would be willing to fight to keep it. You’ve read me well, she admits. I hope we will meet again, the stranger says politely. Don’t count on it, she says rudely. The stranger replies mildly, Yes, well, you don't know me. I am counting on it. He walks past Carolyn to leave, but she moves to keep the altar between them.
Megan and Philip are still jubilant over the success of their day, but suddenly all the happiness seems to drain away from Megan’s face. She pulls down the door and window shades and locks the door as Philip watches in surprise. She is agitated, and at first he misreads her mood. Then he realizes that something is troubling her. I’ve had a premonition, she tells him. Something terrible is going to happen to us if we stay. We should sell the shop and leave Collinsport. But we just bought the shop, Philip reminds her. He holds her close as he tells her, Don’t let one fleeting thought spoil everything. I’m sure we’ll be a big success. But even in his arms, Megan still seems frightened.
The stranger returns to the clearing with the altar. He stares at it for a moment, touches it, then hurries away. A moment later, the altar splits down the middle, and the two halves separate......
[The identity of the mysterious stranger is revealed in the closing credits, spoiling the surprise that awaits Carolyn and others at Collinwood.]
