How does Stoker use the Demeter's story to create suspense?

The entire story of The Demeter's demise creates suspense because it furthers the abilities of the vampire myth and illustrates the extent to which the horror can go. That it has an effect on normally strong and ferocious men, as well as the animals, adds to the supernatural element of evil. The use of the name Demeter is a reference to a very old tale about the goddess Demeter and the loss of her daughter to the underworld (loss of innocence to evil).