Character Relationship Map: The Spider

Characters

• Chatrand (played by Edmund Lowe) — protagonist

  Chatrand the Great is a magician with hypnotic and magical powers who performs at an upscale theater. After a patron is shot during his show, he uses his abilities to help expose the killer, becoming...

• Beverly Lane (played by Lois Moran) — protagonist
• Ole (played by El Brendel) — supporting
• Tommy (played by John Arledge) — supporting
• Dr. Blackstone (played by George E. Stone) — supporting
• John Carrington (played by Earle Foxe) — supporting
• Estelle (played by Manya Roberti) — supporting
• Alexander (played by Howard Phillips) — supporting
• Inspector Riley (played by Purnell Pratt) — supporting
• Goldberg (played by Jesse De Vorska) — minor

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Inspector Riley → John Carrington (Power Interrogator) — Police inspector questioning a patron about their whereabouts during the blackout.
• Inspector Riley → Goldberg (Power Handler) — Police inspector directing his subordinate to secure the perimeter and manage crowd control.
• Beverly Lane → Dr. Blackstone (Professional Doctor) — Assistant consulting a physician regarding her severe amnesia and clairvoyant episodes.
• Chatrand → Inspector Riley (Professional Collaborator) — Magician assisting the police inspector with the theater murder investigation.
• Chatrand → Beverly Lane (Professional Teammate) — Magician and his clairvoyant assistant working together during performances.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Estelle → Alexander (Social Acquaintance) — Audience members seated near each other during the incident.
• Beverly Lane → John Carrington (Social Acquaintance) — Both present as audience members during the evening performance and murder.
• Chatrand → Alexander (Conflict Suspect) — Magician scrutinizing a theater patron who may be connected to the spider ring.
• Chatrand → Tommy (Alliance Teammate) — Stagehand coordinating lighting and sound cues for the performance.
• Chatrand → Ole (Alliance Teammate) — Fellow stage assistant helping manage illusions and props during the show.

Story Analysis

A theater murder mystery unfolds as magician Chatrand uses extraordinary powers to expose a hidden killer.

Plot Progression

1. Magic Before the Gunshot — Chatrand performs his evening magic show in an upscale theater. The performance is suddenly disrupted when a sinister ring and revolver appear.
2. Blackout and Death — The lights go out and a shot rings through the theater. When visibility returns, a patron is dying on the floor and the killer remains unknown.
3. The Sealed Theater Mystery — The police prevent the audience from leaving while the murder mystery develops. Attention also turns toward the strange secret and amnesia of the clairvoyant assistant.
4. Séance and Exposure — Chatrand uses his magical powers to assist the investigation. During a remarkable séance, ghost-like creatures float above the stage before the killer is exposed.