The Mask: A Story of Love and Adventure

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

20131

Title

The Mask: A Story of Love and Adventure

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this thrilling tale of love and adventure, a wealthy New York couple faces a nightmare when a mysterious stranger kidnaps their child and reveals a shocking secret about their husband's identity. Blending domestic suspense with high-stakes crime, the story explores themes of trust, deception, and the dangers of Wall Street greed.

Summary up to 500 words

Arthur Hornblow's *The Mask: A Story of Love and Adventure* begins with Kenneth Traynor preparing to depart for South Africa to secure a massive diamond find for his mining company. His wife, Helen, is deeply anxious about his safety and the presence of Signor Keralio, a charismatic fencing master and business associate whom she distrusts. After Kenneth leaves, Helen's fears intensify when a cablegram from him vanishes. Soon after, Keralio kidnaps her daughter, Dorothy, and holds Helen hostage in her own home. Keralio reveals a devastating truth: Kenneth is dead. The man who returned three months prior was actually Kenneth's twin brother, an impostor working with Keralio. Keralio explains that he killed the real Kenneth and used the twin to maintain the family's wealth while manipulating Helen. The narrative builds to a climax where Helen, realizing the horror of her situation, attempts to escape but is overpowered. Just as Keralio prepares to silence her permanently, a team led by Helen's lawyer friend, Mr. Steell, bursts in. A shootout ensues, resulting in the death of the impostor and the capture of Keralio, who is revealed to be a notorious criminal with a history of counterfeiting and blackmail. The real Kenneth is found alive, having been held by the criminals. The story concludes with the family reunited, the diamonds recovered, and the villains brought to justice. The novel resolves its suspense with a satisfying, albeit tragic, twist involving the twin brother's suicide after being confronted by Kenneth and Steell. Through themes of deception, marital trust, and the dangers of Wall Street, the story delivers a thrilling adventure that restores order to the Traynor household.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20131.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg20131.epub

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Categories

• Adventure
• Fiction