In 1810, Laura was the wife of painter Charles Collins, but their marriage was anything but happy. Her husband was having a blatant affair with his sister-in-law, Angelique. Understandably upset, she may have been more concerned if she knew they were planning her death. (Angelique wanted Charles to kill Laura as a token of his love.) Laura wanted Angelique dead as well, she just had more subtle and legal methods of going about it.
The entire town was convinced Angelique was a witch. Laura herself may have believed it, but if not, she was quick to exploit it. She summoned the witch-hunting Reverend Strack, making plans to hang Angelique for witchcraft. Knowing Angelique's husband Gabriel would want to avoid a scandal at any cost, Laura enlisted his aid by promising the entire matter would be kept secret. Directing Strack to her husband's studio where Angelique was "posing", Laura watched triumphantly as Charles' lover was hanged from a tree. She even attended Angelique's funeral, though she was unable to control her laughter at the idea that Angelique was a "loving sister-in-law".
But her laughter was premature. Driven by revenge and encouraged by the restless spirit of Angelique, Charles was eliminating everyone responsible for his lover's death. After beating Strack to death, he confronted Laura in the pool house. With no idea her life was in jeapordy, she let her husband approach her. When his hands closed around her throat, she tried to get away, but fell into the swimming pool. Charles held her under the water, and Laura died, a victim of the woman she had killed.
