Valdemar
Background
Ernest Valdemar is a resident of Massachusetts. His wife is Helene. Valdemar is dying from a brain disorder.
During the events of Tales of Terror (1962) played by Vincent Price
Valdemar is sitting in bed while Carmichael mesmerizes him. Carmichael then makes Valdemar's pain go away. Helene asks Valdemar if he is okay and Dr. James looks over Valdemar and says that Valdemar seems okay. They toast, but James says his reservations of the bad side effects of mesmerist control. Valdemar tells Helene and James that Carmichael has taken away his pain and all Carmichael asks is for a slight favor before Valdemar dies. Carmichael tells them that Valdemar has agreed to be mesmerized at the point of death to see how long death can be stalled. James asks Valdemar to refuse Carmichael's offer, but Valdemar refuses. Helene asks Valdemar to change his mind and tells him that she is afraid of Carmichael and that while Valdemar is mesmerized, Carmichael gives him orders. Valdemar again refuses and tells Helene that after he dies, he wishes her to marry James.
On Valdemar's death bed, Carmichael arrives and mesmerizes Valdemar. Carmichael speaks to Valdemar and Valdemar asks to not be awoken. Valdemar starts to moan and says that he is dead. Carmichael realizes that Valdemar is dead, but still able to hear and Carmichael asks him to describe his surroundings. Valdemar describes darkness and James begs Carmichael to let Valdemar truly die. Valdemar says that he sees darkness and multitudes of people and starts to moan again. Some time later, Carmichael goes into Valdemar's room and Valdemar begs Carmichael to release him. Helene and James return to the house and James orders Carmichael to release Valdemar. James pulls out a gun and Carmichael has Valdemar tell Helene that he wants her to marry Carmichael. Helene asks James to leave and he does. Helene offers to marry Carmichael if she sets Valdemar free. He tells her that he is in command and then starts to sexually assault her. She screams and the body of Valdemar rises from the bed and starts to rot and attacks Carmichael. James hears Carmichael scream and runs back to the room and carries Helene out of the room after seeing the melted corpse of Valdemar on top of the now dead Carmichael.