British scientist and traveler Henry Cheswick brought an ancient necklace from India. Legend says it belonged to the Great Black Mother—the wife of the god Shiva. He didn’t follow her instructions and was cruelly punished; the necklace itself was lost. Now, in Petersburg, police are investigating a maniac who uses silk scarves depicting this goddess for murders. An employee of an antique shop gets drawn into the case when a key to a hiding place with the ancient necklace ends up in her hands.