Henry Franklin, a Black Hills tourist photographer, has suffered a mysterious death, and his corpse was found in an advanced state of mummification. When FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully begin their investigation, they discover the possibility that Franklin is somehow linked to a series of mysterious maladies that struck people who had their photographs taken by him. And that some people who had him take their pictures had disappeared! As the investigation continues, Fox Mulder finds himself becoming inexplicably fascinated with Franklin's old portrait camera. Somehow, the facts they need to solve the mystery involve that camera. The question is, will the camera help the agents solve the mystery, or make them victims?