THE MASTER SPIRIT [Illustration: “‘Alexia--has the time come?’” (Page 163.)] THE MASTER SPIRIT BY SIR WILLIAM MAGNAY _Author of “The Red Chancellor,” “A Prince of Lovers,” etc._ _ILLUSTRATED BY JOHN CAMERON_ BOSTON LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY 1906 _Copyright, 1906_, BY LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY. _All rights reserved_ Published October, 1906 Printers S. J. PARKHILL & CO., BOSTON, U. S. A. CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I A DWELLER IN DARKNESS 1 II THE HISTORY OF A COMPACT 9 III A SOCIETY SENSATION 23 IV THE DUCAL POINT OF VIEW 37 V THE MAN WHO GUESSED 50 VI THE MAN BEHIND 63 VII THE FIERY ORDEAL 70 VIII THE VAUX HOUSE CASE 81 IX ALEXIA’S DENIAL 88 X A SENSATIONAL APPEARANCE 94 XI HERRIARD AND ALEXIA 102 XII THE PROFESSOR IS PUZZLED 113 XIII A MAYFAIR COUNSELLOR 126 XIV THE TRAGEDY DEEPENS 140 XV A HALF-WON VICTORY 152 XVI NEARING A CRISIS 162 XVII AMAZEMENT 175 XVIII RESURRECTION 187 XIX HERRIARD STANDS ALONE 196 XX THE SOLUTION OF THE MYSTERY 204 XXI THE MASK FALLS 214 XXII THE STRUGGLE 229 XXXIII THE WAYS OF MAYFAIR 240 XXXIV HERRIARD’S CONFESSION 247 XXV A RIOT 259 XXVI ALEXIA’S VISITOR 265 XXVII THE END OF THE INTERVIEW 274 XXVIII THE FACE IN THE BOX 285 XXIX A PORTENT 297 XXX THE LAST MEETING 308 THE MASTER SPIRIT CHAPTER I A DWELLER IN DARKNESS