82

X. Groping 90

XI. Illumination 96

BOOK II--THE ROOT

I. An Old Perfume 110

II. An Intruder 123

III. A Straight Tip 127

IV. Every Man's Shadow 133

V. Gathering Clouds 143

VI. The Storm Breaks 153

VII. At the King's Command 162

VIII. A Ray of Sunlight 168

IX. Beneath the Skin 174

X. The Demigod 184

XI. The Lamp of Aladdin 187

XII. Temptation 201

XIII. The Forbidden Land 209

XIV. An Aftermath 221

XV. Confession 230

XVI. The Unbidden Guest 235

XVII. Some Inside Facts 242

XVIII. The Dance of Death 259

XIX. The Last Illusion 272

XX. The Parting of the Ways 287

XXI. A Plea for Justice 303

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 fiancee.
MRS. PRIMROSE, her mother.
JO