Nurse Lucy Blackwood and Headmistress Juliette Clarimonde, of Oakgrove school for girls, were both found dead on the floor of Blackwood’s office; an overdose of laudanum had taken Clarimonde whilst a riven throat had been the death of Blackwood. The Life Principle is a tale of good intentions and horrific consequences. The nameless protagonist of our story comes to wander the desolate ruin of Clarimonde's school and in that ruinous place comes to learn of the true horror, born from a noble goal, that led to the deaths of Lucy and Juliette.