Jim's theater of "Horror and Illusion" is going to perform at the place in which Paris is going to die on an electric chair as part of the performance. Vautrain catches Jim who is investigating a podium Vautrain has prepared with wires with special effects for the next day. And Vautrain notices the resemblance between him and Paris, too. He becomes suspicious and thinks that they are working for Picard. Confronting Paris with his theory he states that he suspects that Paris was going to be in his place, surviving the attack by electrocution via the wired podium. This would guarantee the duchess admiration towards him and he would have proclaimed Picard as successor. Vautrain forces Paris to go on with the show – with a slight change of program: Yes, he would survive the electrocution, but Vautrain himself would afterwards take his place and blame Picard for the attempted murder. In addition to that he summons that the duchess woulld proclaim him as successor believing that he is immortal.

Vautrain arranges for their execution as soon as they have finished the show. The show goes on and Paris performs the miracle. Suddenly Barney appears and shoots Vautrain (with a tranquilizer gun). As he awakes he is sure to be Picard’s prisoner, but manages to overcome the guard. He also manages to take Barney’s gun (filled with fake bullets). By now Paris (as Vautrain) and the duchess are together in the palace as Vautrain rushes in. He shoots Paris / Vautrain. Paris / Vautrain takes a bullet and survives again saying: "I will not die!". Vautrain tries to escape and is shot. Now Paris reveals his tricks to the duchess showing her that not all is real what she had believed in. And he convinces her to name Picard as successor.