Island of the Drowned

Alexander doesn’t believe a word of it. When village woman Lucia and fellow tourist Nettie ask him to accompany them to the island, he agrees. There Lucia drugs him, and both she and Nettie leave Alexander alone on the island, rowing back to shore. Alexander takes refuge in the ancient church, intending to try to get back to the mainland tomorrow.

Unfortunately, the legend is real. The undead mermaids return and take their due. The tithe is paid for the next hundred years.