Plunged into a nightmare from a profitable trip, the intrepid explorer James Kirkham finds his vibrant life in New York violently interrupted. Abducted by the sinister minions of a self-proclaimed 'Satan,' Kirkham is dragged into a hidden lair teeming with other prominent, blackmailed, and bewildered figures. There, he becomes an unwilling participant in a diabolical 'game of seven footprints,' a twisted initiation into a secret society ruled by the enigmatic villain. Compelled into a terrifying servitude, Kirkham is forced to commit a series of bizarre and fantastic crimes, his every action dictated by his shadowy master. This thrilling pulp adventure thrusts Kirkham into a world of elaborate traps, moral dilemmas, and chilling secrets, as he navigates the dark labyrinth of Satan's dominion, desperately seeking an escape from his enforced villainy and the clutches of the malevolent genius who holds his fate in his hands.
Critical Reception
"Merritt's work remains a quintessential example of early 20th-century pulp fiction, captivating readers with its blend of exotic adventure and uncanny horror."