Chapter III: Book III: The Flower

I. The Devil Smiles 315

II. Beside Beautiful Waters 321

III. The Tempter's Voice 333

IV. The Mockery of the Sun 348

V. A Trump Card 353

VI. Through Purple Curtains 366

VII. The Land of the Sky 374

VIII. The White Messenger 392

IX. The Eyes of Pity 402

X. An Epilogue 407

ILLUSTRATIONS

"He turned and saw Nan" _Frontispiece_

FACING PAGE

"'I was seeing a vision, little pal'" 104

"He hurled him down the steps" 180

"'I must save her. I must be cunning'" 284

"Nan looked at him in despair" 386

THE ROOT OF EVIL

LEADING CHARACTERS OF THE STORY

_SCENE: New York and the Mountains of North Carolina_

_TIME: 1898 to 1907_

JAMES STUART, a young Southerner in New York. NAN PRIMROSE, his fiancée. MRS. PRIMROSE, her mother. JOHN C. CALHOUN BIVENS, a millionaire. DR. HENRY WOODMAN, who loves his neighbour. HARRIET, his daughter. HIS MAJESTY, the King of America.

THE ROOT OF EVIL