A woman lay dying a horrible slow death. At one time she had such a charming and beautiful smile that her husband could not resist her charms. Once married, the charm and delight left her and the smile turned to a condescending sneer. Even then, her perfect lips and milk-white teeth were the image of pure beauty. In her death throes, she turns into a churlish and horrible woman with whom no one can bear to spend a moment. Her younger and beautiful sister is the polar opposite: she is kind and gentle and loving beyond reproach. She also shares the affection of her brother in law but restrain themselves and maintain a platonic relationship, at least until the cruel sister/wife has died. But even in death, the smile, in all its’ horrible beauty, continues to haunt the widower, and leads him to drastic action.