I Could Not Marry

After arresting artist Jeff Witby for murder, the police send him to see prison psychiatrist Dr. Emery to learn why Jeff strangled a girl. Jeff feels comfortable with Emery, whom he has previously seen for treatment, and recounts the events leading up to the murder: After many unsuccessful attempts at painting since leaving a sanitarium, Jeff decides to create a portrait from the vivid description of a heroine in a novel. Jeff secludes himself in his studio and paints without sleeping or eating. When his girl friend, Ellen Jordan, reprimands him for forgetting a date, Jeff apologizes, explaining that his work has become more important than their relationship. After finishing the initial sketch, Jeff rereads the passage in the book and realizes that the description matches that of his sister Jane. Two weeks later, when Ellen returns to view the painting, Jeff insists that she leave him so that he can finish his work. Alone with his housekeeper Martha, Jeff longingly speaks of his sister's beauty, prompting Martha to suggest that Jane's affection for her brother had been sexual. Jeff is infuriated and orders Martha to leave the room. Back in Emery's office, Jeff understands that he was really angry because someone had understood his real relationship with his sister. Emery recognizes the problem from their previous work together, but Jeff discontinued the treatment before the problem could be resolved. Jeff then continues his story: After apologizing to Martha, Jeff calls Dick Mason, the chairman of the Committee of Modern Arts, hoping to exhibit the painting. When Jeff and Dick meet at a bar, Jeff believes he recognizes a woman at another booth and calls out to her, "Jane, Jane." When the woman leaves without responding, Jeff learns the woman's address from the bartender and rushes out the door. Jeff meets the woman, Lisa Loring, at her house and relates his story about her resemblance to his painting. Lisa then gives Jeff a massage and a palm reading, suspecting that he might have a tendency towards violence. When Jeff reveals his strange attraction to his sister, Lisa suspects something is wrong with Jeff, but accepts his invitation for a date. While they are together one evening at the bar, Jeff becomes furiously jealous when Lisa leaves after being called to the phone. As his thoughts return to the painting, Jeff sees the character of the portrait change without his intervention. Later, when he attempts to apologize to Lisa for his jealousy, she explains that she is a prostitute. Jeff assures her that he cares about her regardless of her occupation. That night, when Jeff shows Lisa the painting, she admits that it is her mirror image. As he tries to embrace her, Lisa yells at him to stop and accuses him of being in love with his sister and not her. Jeff flies into a rage causing Lisa to leave. After a night of heavy drinking, Jeff hallucinates that the picture is talking to him. He hears Lisa's voice telling him there is something wrong with him and prodding him to kill her in order to restore the chaste and beautiful image of his sister. Later that evening, Lisa goes to Jeff's house and offers to give up prostitution for him. Jeff insists that she remain the same person so that he can destroy her and restore his image of Jane. Jeff then strangles Lisa to death.