England, where the survival of pagan folk festivals in the Mardian dance-play performed each year during the winter solstice, lends a curious montage to the ritualistic murder of the old village smith. Members of the cast have a leading role offstage as well in the subsequent investigation by Alleys and Fox, which is ingenious. A romance, as well as the innovations of this strange miss-en-scene and the inventiveness of the story gives this a cachet among her many titles.