Note: Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive/American Libraries. See http://archive.org/details/sonofperditionoc00hume Transcriber's note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). A SON OF PERDITION An Occult Romance by FERGUS HUME Author of "The Mystery of a Hansom Cab," "Lady Jim of Curzon Street," "The Mother of Emeralds," "The Jew's House," etc., etc. New & Cheaper Edition. London William Rider & Son, Ltd. TO MRS. ANNIE BESANT PRESIDENT THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY WHO IS ELOQUENT, WISE, PATIENT, AND TOLERANT _NOTE_ _The Author is indebted for the description of the Star-Worship contained in Chapter XV to Mr. C. W. Leadbeater's articles on "Ancient Chaldea," which appeared in the February, March, and April numbers of "The Theosophical Review" during the year 1900._ CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I. LOVE IN IDLENESS 1 II. THE PROPHECY 16 III. THE FULFILMENT 31 IV. PLOTTING 47 V. THE MEETING 66 VI. A CONVERSATION 83 VII. BEHIND THE SCENES 99 VIII. LOVE'S YOUNG DREAM 112 IX. THE WARNING 128 X. IN CORNWALL 144 XI. THE SPIDER AND THE FLY 160 XII. SMALL BEER CHRONICLES 177 XIII. FURTHER SMALL BEER CHRONICLES 196 XIV. PREPARATION 215 XV. THE TRANCE 231 XVI. THE DISCIPLE OF LOVE 248 XVII. THE DISCIPLE OF HATE 267 XVIII. THE NIGHT BEFORE 282 XIX. THE MORNING AFTER 298 XX. THE UNEXPECTED 317 XXI. THE CHOICE 333 XXII. RIGHT IS MIGHT 350 XXIII. THE ETERNAL STRIFE 368 XXIV. DAWN 386 CHAPTER I LOVE IN IDLENESS "How can any one hope to transfer that to canvas?" asked the artist, surveying the many-coloured earth and sky and sea with despairing eyes. "Easily enough," replied the girl at his elbow, "those who see twice as vividly as others, can make others see once as vividly as they do. That is what we call genius." "A large word for my small capabilities, Miss Enistor. Am I a genius?" "Ask yourself, Mr. Hardwick, for none other than yourself can answer truly."