A mysterious stranger arrives at a quiet country inn at night. He is fully clothed, with even his face swathed in bandages. With the arrival of this stranger, bizarre incidents start happening in the neighbourhood - doors open and close on their own, voices are heard but no one is seen - a case of vox et praeterea nihil, that is, "voice and nothing more". As the story progresses, the strange changes to the macabre. A scientist conducts a seemingly impossible experiment on himself and becomes invisible. However, not only his body, but his mind also transforms for the worse. He becomes a homicidal maniac, with a complete disregard for human life or property. His first appearance is in the neighbourhood of Iping, where he arrives fully clothed and wrapped up in bandages. His demeanour evokes the curiosity of the landlady of the Coaches and Horses inn, where he lodges. His unusual behaviour gradually incites the curiosity of the locals, like Mr Cuss who goes to "interview" the stranger only to have his nose "nipped" by an invisible thumb and finger. Gradually, the stranger exploits his power of invisibility to steal at the vicarage, terrorize the local people, and finally escape the neighbourhood of Iping amidst much chaos and confusion.