SVENGALI

After being fired from working as a barmaid in a Paris bar, Trilby O'Ferrall is hired by the sculptor Durian as an artist's model. She encounters three British painters living next door, including the sensitive Billy Bagot with whom she gradually falls in love. She also encounters the street musician Svengali, but does not much like him. Billy wants to marry Trilby, but his wealthy family does not approve. He is also distressed when he discovers her posing nude for a class of art students. After returning to London, he is knocked down in the street by a carriage and suffers from ill health.

In the meantime, after he is able to cure her of a headache, Svengali takes control of Trilby's life. Despite her previously only being able to badly sing the parlour song "Alice, Where Art Thou?", which she learnt from her Irish father, he now coaches her and transforms her into a magnificent opera singer through his mesmerising technique. She becomes an international success, performing in capitals across Europe; led by the domineering Svengali, she forgets Billy completely. However, when he attends a performance of hers in London, the spell is shattered and instead of performing classical opera to the expectant crowd she sings "Alice, Where Are Thou?" in her old voice.

Trilby, under Svengali's spell, becomes a famed opera singer but forgets Billy. At a London performance, the spell breaks and she sings her old song in her true voice.

The ending reveals the impermanence of Svengali's psychological grip, as Trilby's authentic self resurfaces in the presence of her true love. The conclusion underscores the limits of manipulation and the enduring power of genuine emotion, as Trilby's identity reasserts itself over Svengali's control.