Transcriber’s Notes Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. Variations in hyphenation have been standardised but all other spelling and punctuation remains unchanged. Italics are represented thus _italic_. Duplication of each chapter heading on a full page before each chapter has been removed. [Illustration: p. 84 “HE HEAR ALL DE SECRETS ER DER CREEPIN’ THINGS”] _DEVIL_ TALES BY VIRGINIA FRAZER BOYLE ILLUSTRATED BY A. B. FROST [Illustration] NEW YORK AND LONDON HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS _MCM_ Copyright, 1900, by HARPER & BROTHERS: _All rights reserved._ TO ELLEN CONTENTS PAGE OLD CINDER CAT 1 “A KINGDOM FOR MICAJAH” 23 THE DEVIL’S LITTLE FLY 53 ASMODEUS IN THE QUARTERS 77 THE TAMING OF JEZRUL 91 DARK ER DE MOON 105 THE OTHER MAUMER 133 STOLEN FIRE 157 THE BLACK CAT 167 ’LIZA 193 ILLUSTRATIONS “HE HEAR ALL DE SECRETS ER DER CREEPIN’ THINGS” _Frontispiece_ _Facing p._ “‘’CASE DE HOODOO AM ER ’OMAN’” 8 “SHE FOLLOWED OLD CINDER CAT” 12 “THE CHARM WAS FOREVER BROKEN, AND THE COMELY HOODOO KNEW IT” 18 “‘PERZACKLY LACK OLE MARSE’” 30 “‘GO ON AND HAVE A GOOD TIME, MICAJAH’” 36 “HE COLLARED HIS ASTONISHED LITTLE NIGGER” 46 “UNDER THE TREES IN THE WOOD-LOT” 80 “HE DES FOLLER UV ’EM EVER NIGHT” 82 “HE HEAR MISSAR JONES’S SAMBO FIVE MILES AWAY” 84 “SHADRACH HE RIZ WID HE OWN COAT-TAILS” 86 “IN DE SHAPE UV ER BIG JACK-RABBIT” 88 “‘OH! THE HORROR OF THE THING’” 94