THE MASTER OF STAIR BY MARJORIE BOWEN Author of The Viper of Milan [Illustration] NEW YORK McCLURE, PHILLIPS & CO. MCMVII ------------------------------------------------------------------------ _Copyright, 1907, by McClure, Phillips & Co._ _Published April, 1907_ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ _To Mark Twain with deep gratitude for the flattering interest shown by a great man of letters in the work of a beginner_ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENTS BOOK ONE CHAPTER PAGE I RONALD MACDONALD 3 II THE KISS 14 III JOCK O’BREADALBANE’S WIFE 24 IV DELIA FEATHERSTONEHAUGH 35 V THE FOLLY OF DELIA 47 VI HATE MEETS HATE 62 VII THE POISON OF THE KISS 77 VIII MACCALLUM MORE 87 IX ON THE ROAD TO LONDON 98 X THE KING’S MESSENGER 108 XI THE MASTER OF STAIR 119 XII THE LOVE OF DELIA 131 XIII THE MASTER’S WIFE 149 XIV THE CURSE OF THE DALRYMPLES 161 XV THE AVOWAL 174 XVI A LAMPOON ANSWERED 183 XVII THE BITTERNESS OF DEATH 195 XVIII AN INNOCENT BETRAYAL 205 XIX THE PACT 217 XX ON THE VERGE OF MADNESS 227 XXI WILLIAM OF ORANGE 238 XXII THE RESOLUTION OF DESPAIR 256 XXIII JAMES FITZJAMES 261 XXIV THE LOVE OF MARGARET CAMPBELL 272 XXV GLENCOE 284 BOOK TWO