In the prologue, the infamous Baron Victor Frankenstein is sentenced to death by the guillotine for grave desecration and murder, but succeeds to escape with the help of the hunchback Karl. Three years later, Baron Frankenstein, now going under the name Dr. Stein, is a well- respected physician and philanthropist for the poor in Carlsbruck, Germany. Together with his crippled assistant Karl, whom he promised a new body, Dr. Stein continues his experiments and uses his work at the pauper’s hospital to provide him with fresh body parts.