Hidden Hand

Hidden Hand is a fast-moving Gothic romance where stormy landscapes, concealed chambers, and family secrets drive a tale of danger and suspense. At its center is Capitola, a fearless, clever heroine whose wit and daring carry her through smugglers, outlaws, masked threats, and shocking discoveries. The novel moves between melodrama and tenderness, balancing perilous adventure with romance, haunted memories, and the unsettling sense that appearances are never what they seem. Among its most vivid scenes are a winter journey to the eerie Devil's Punch Bowl, where a dying woman recounts a masked abduction and a secret birth under threat, and Capitola's own narrow escape from a sly would-be captor in a lonely valley. The story also turns to Willow Heights, where Traverse begins his medical training under a kindly doctor and meets Clara, the doctor's gentle, beautiful daughter. Their growing connection deepens as the doctor falls gravely ill, entrusts Clara's future to Traverse, and dies in a scene of faith, love, and quiet resignation. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.