The story tells the tale of a man named George Stransom, who, after the death of his friends and loved ones, constructs an altar in his home as a way of remembering and honoring them.Stransom is a wealthy and successful businessman who has lost many people close to him throughout his life. As a way of coping with his grief and ensuring that their memories are not forgotten, he begins to collect photographs and other mementos of the deceased and places them on a specially designed altar in his home. He spends much of his time tending to the altar and reflecting on the lives of those he has lost.As Stransom continues to add to the altar, he becomes increasingly isolated from the world around him. He becomes consumed by his own thoughts and memories, and his devotion to the altar takes on a religious quality. Eventually, Stransom's obsession with the altar leads to his own death.