A man is in a room, seemingly making feverish preparations to leave. Suddenly, electric light bulbs explode and he screams in agony. A short while later, the Constabulary arrive, and begin to investigate. Dr Ogden can find no sign of external trauma, but says that the corpse is unusually warm, and there are blisters on the man's hand. There is a commotion outside the door as Mr Nikola Tesla arrives, saying that his assistant, Morris Garbutt, had asked him to come, and that it was a matter of life and death.
At the morgue, Dr Ogden tells Murdoch the cause of death was that the man had been cooked, seemingly from the inside outwards. The two of them talk about a job Julia has been offered in Buffalo, and about how rare such opportunities are for women.
In Police Station 4, Nikola Tesla is telling Inspector Brackenreid that he received a telegram from Garbutt two days earlier saying he needed to discuss an unspecified urgent matter. Garbutt and another assistant, Josef Karnaki had left his employ six months previously. Karnaki, in particular, was brilliant and a great loss. On the way to the crime scene, Tesla says he had been experimenting with the transfer of energy carried by high frequency radio waves, which are effective in air, but easily absorbed by water, causing it to heat up and boil. Human bodies are mostly water, which is how Garbutt met his end.
At the crime scene it is possible to trace the course of the energy ray by the trail of desiccated vegetation. Murdoch and Tesla do this, tracing the ray's point of origin to an isolated building, but that building is empty. Tesla is taken aback. For an energy transfer machine powerful enough to kill to be small enough to transport easily would require advances in metallurgy and miniaturisation that are well beyond Karnaki. The only man known by Murdoch to have the requisite skills is James Pendrick, but he is in jail awaiting execution. Murdoch gains nothing from talking to him.
Terence Meyers, the Canadian Government agent, turns up in Brackenreid's office, letting it be known that he is aware of the development of a terrible new weapon, and demanding to be kept up to date.
Murdoch discusses with Tesla how the energy transfer device affects the earth's magnetic field, and proposes that an array of compasses could be used to triangulate the location of the weapon, as it builds up the charge. Doing that leads Tesla, Meyers and the Police to a building belonging to James Pendrick,but too late they realise it is a trap. Quick thinking from Murdoch saves the day, but the weapon is still out there, as is Karnaki and whoever is financing him.
So, will Murdoch and Tesla be able to find Karnaki before some foreign power buys the weapon from him? What part has James Pendrick played in the conspiracy? Does Terrence Meyers have access to sufficient funds to acquire the weapon for Canada? Will Murdoch be able to persuade Dr Ogden to stay in Toronto and settle down with him?
This episode features plenty of interesting scientific ideas. It also shows a great deal about the pressures both Julia and William feel themselves living under. Some doors may be closing, but there are also some loose ends left dangling tantalisingly. It makes for a great series finale.
At the morgue, Dr Ogden tells Murdoch the cause of death was that the man had been cooked, seemingly from the inside outwards. The two of them talk about a job Julia has been offered in Buffalo, and about how rare such opportunities are for women.
In Police Station 4, Nikola Tesla is telling Inspector Brackenreid that he received a telegram from Garbutt two days earlier saying he needed to discuss an unspecified urgent matter. Garbutt and another assistant, Josef Karnaki had left his employ six months previously. Karnaki, in particular, was brilliant and a great loss. On the way to the crime scene, Tesla says he had been experimenting with the transfer of energy carried by high frequency radio waves, which are effective in air, but easily absorbed by water, causing it to heat up and boil. Human bodies are mostly water, which is how Garbutt met his end.
At the crime scene it is possible to trace the course of the energy ray by the trail of desiccated vegetation. Murdoch and Tesla do this, tracing the ray's point of origin to an isolated building, but that building is empty. Tesla is taken aback. For an energy transfer machine powerful enough to kill to be small enough to transport easily would require advances in metallurgy and miniaturisation that are well beyond Karnaki. The only man known by Murdoch to have the requisite skills is James Pendrick, but he is in jail awaiting execution. Murdoch gains nothing from talking to him.
Terence Meyers, the Canadian Government agent, turns up in Brackenreid's office, letting it be known that he is aware of the development of a terrible new weapon, and demanding to be kept up to date.
Murdoch discusses with Tesla how the energy transfer device affects the earth's magnetic field, and proposes that an array of compasses could be used to triangulate the location of the weapon, as it builds up the charge. Doing that leads Tesla, Meyers and the Police to a building belonging to James Pendrick,but too late they realise it is a trap. Quick thinking from Murdoch saves the day, but the weapon is still out there, as is Karnaki and whoever is financing him.
So, will Murdoch and Tesla be able to find Karnaki before some foreign power buys the weapon from him? What part has James Pendrick played in the conspiracy? Does Terrence Meyers have access to sufficient funds to acquire the weapon for Canada? Will Murdoch be able to persuade Dr Ogden to stay in Toronto and settle down with him?
This episode features plenty of interesting scientific ideas. It also shows a great deal about the pressures both Julia and William feel themselves living under. Some doors may be closing, but there are also some loose ends left dangling tantalisingly. It makes for a great series finale.
