The commission to paint the picture of St. John for one of the great cathedrals is awarded to Monsieur Werner. The father recognizes in his son the attributes for the painting and soon the picture is completed. Werner's son dissipates his time, money, and substance in riotous living. Many years later, Artist Werner gets an order to paint the worst type of Satanic depravity. He seeks for his model among the poor and outcast, until one day he comes across the semblance of a man with all the characteristics of bestiality and the brand of sin. The last touches put upon the painting, the artist withdraws from the room. The poor sot, left alone, shuffles toward the canvas, looks at the portrayal of his features and is struck with horror. The artist returns and tries to quiet his model. At this moment, his eyes light upon a copy of the painting of St. John, for which he sat years ago. Beating his breast in terror, he cries, "I posed for that picture of St. John, the Divine!" In his delirium, the wretched sot falls dead. As the hand of the grim messenger smooths the pallid features, the artist recognizes the semblance of his son.