The story of a young clergyman who becomes a wanderer in the great western uplands--until at last love and faith awake. Sequel to Riders of the Purple Sage.

Vice Versa or A Lesson to Fathers

The Wit and Humor of America, Volume II. (of X.) By Marshall Pinckney Wilder

“In this story, as the chief character is internally melodramatic, the story itself ceases to be merely melodramatic, and partakes of true drama.” — T. S. Eliot.Like Poe before him and Conan Doyle after, Wilkie Collins shifted easily from rational domains to the “superrational.” Like them, he is famed for original contributions to “ratiocinative” (detective) literature, but often preferred to indulge his occult predilection — a lifelong indulgence. His first published story, “The Last Stage Coachmen” (1843), was a supernatural allegory of trains; perhaps his last lucid effort (before ill health and opium drained his powers) was this short novel, The Haunted Hotel.Collins’ methods and themes, developed and elaborated in his earlier, massive novels, are streamlined and concentrated here into a tight novelette. The same relentless pace and narrative power, the same attention to plot and backdrop detail that distinguish The Moonstone and The Woman in White are evident here, as is the obsession with destiny and the willful struggle against it.Collins’ much-loved Venice provides the scenery and fatal beauty, the grim waterways and palaces the author will haunt with mysterious women, grotesques, and bloody conspiracies. The Countess Narona is one of Collins’ cosmopolitan enchantresses; she acts, but as the tool of her doom. T. S. Eliot wrote, “The principal character, the fatal woman, is herself obsessed by the idea of fatality; her motives are melodramatic; she therefore compels the coincidences to occur, feeling that she is compelled to compel them.” Collins relieves the tension with some wry characterizations and ironies; the theatrics are sustained. Indeed, theatrical motifs figure heavily, Collins himself being much involved with the stage at that period.The Haunted Hotel appears to be loosely based on a case from the annals of French crime; the scene, scenery, players and conflicts, and especially the horror, come straight from Collins’ overstimulated, no doubt overwrought, most certainly haunted imagination.

Julie has always had the gift to see other people’s memories but it also has been the curse of her life.What if you could see other people’s memories? What if you could also take away those memories?Julie has always had the gift to see other people’s memories but it also has been the curse of her life.

Another collection of original tales brought to you by The Indie Collaboration. This time we present a chocolate box selection of love stories. Some are romantic, some funny, some sad and some mysterious. Whatever the style, there will be a story or poem in here that will melt even the most hardened of hearts.Another collection of original tales brought to you by The Indie Collaboration. This time we present a chocolate box selection of love stories. Some are romantic, some funny, some sad and some mysterious. Whatever the style, there will be a story or poem in here that will melt even the most hardened of hearts.The TalesALL THE WAY TO GENEVA BY Alan HardyLOVE ISN'T FAIR By Madhu Kalyan MattaparthiSUNNYSIDE By Peter JohnONE DAY IN THE RAIN By Priya BhardwajWHEN LOVE CAME KNOCKING By Sonya C. DoddTALES OF ERANA: THE LEGEND OF OELIANA By A. L. ButcherTHE PRINCE By Gunjan VyasLOVING HEARTS AND BLACK ARTS By D. C. RogersA LATTE TO GO By Chris RavenYOU CONTRADICT YOURSELF By Gunjan VyasTHE HEART WISH By Kristina BlasenThe PoemsEVAN AND JOAN By P.W CollierWISHES By William O'BrienA VALENTINE FROM MARCELLA By Greatest Poet AliveYOUR SMILE By Madhu Kalyan MattaparthiTO THE MOON By P.W CollierFORETOLD By William O'BrienTWO FLAVORS By Madhu Kalyan MattaparthiJUST HEAR ME OUT By Greatest Poet AliveBONDED By William O'BrienLOVE AT FIRST SIGHT By Madhu Kalyan MattaparthiETERNITY By William O'BrienFIRST KISS By Madhu Kalyan MattaparthiTHE FLEETING KISS By Peter JohnSERENE By Chris RavenWAIT FOR ME By Greatest Poet Alive

The first Norman castle is being built in Engla-lond--whether the Anglo-Saxons want it or not. Set in the Dark Ages of Engla-lond, the "Last Tales of Mercia" are ten short stories featuring real historical figures and characters from the "Sons of Mercia" series. All ten stories form a prequel to the novel, "Edric the Wild." Though strongly connected to the series, they can be read independently.Flash fiction is a type of storytelling in which the author must tell a full and satisfying story in 750 to 1000 words. A fabulous challenge and an art form that lent itself perfectly to the romantic "Junior Matchmakers" tale. Enjoy my gift to you!

'City Boy' spins a hilarious and often touching tale of an urban kid's adventures and misadventures on the street, in school, in the countryside, always in pursuit of Lucille, a heartless redhead personifying all the girls who torment and fascinate pubescent lads of eleven.

When he asked, she said yes. When he asked why, she had no answer. She could not answer the man she was about to marry, but can she answer a total stranger she encounters in a cemetery?Baltimore-born Ireland Rose, daughter of Irish immigrants, must be married by her seventeenth birthday. Rose's father finds a suitable husband, Captain Camden Lovell, twenty-seven years her senior. Captain Lovell takes his bride to Charleston, provides her with a beautiful home on the Battery and good standing in Charleston Society.Three years later Rose is a widow. Captain Wyatt, her husband's trusted employee is now in charge of her affairs. Rose senses he does not like her. One day he brings a young woman with child to her - and a secret that must be kept. A little girl is born, and Rose becomes a mother. Captain Wyatt offers to marry her in name only to protect her from Charleston society gossip, but she is determined she will not marry a second time for protection. She will marry for love or live alone.Just three months later, August 31st, 1886 the city of Charleston suffers the worst earthquake of the century. Her beautiful home is in shambles. Rose has no choice but to return to her parents' birthplace in Ireland. The only record she has of her Irish ancestry is in her mother's Bible. She and her infant daughter take the next ship to Ireland. She has begun to hope she has finally found happiness when Captain Wyatt comes with news that shatters her heart.Every person Rose loves is taken away. Her faith in God is shaken. There is a plan for her, but she can't see it. Captain Wyatt breaks her heart, not once but twice.

These adventures are all free to download, as is the game system itself. Enjoy.Adventure Pack One contains seven complete adventures for use with the Challenger Roleplaying Game system a Free Roleplaying Game. These adventures are relatively short, can be easily adapted to other game systems including Of Mice Men and Wizards and are designed to take a band of 1st level heroes to 100th level+.Adventure Pack One contains seven complete adventures for use with the Challenger Roleplaying Game system a Free Roleplaying Game. These adventures are relatively short, can be easily adapted to other game systems including Of Mice Men and Wizards, and are designed to take a band of characters from 1st level to 100th level and beyond.These quests are also designed to get you started on creating your own epic, Challenger campaigns.This adventure pack contains:Into the North: an assault on Saint Nick the Dwarf Thief's evil fortress.Secret Agent Caper: a portal teleports the heroes to the 1950s on an alternate earth where they appear to be prominent spies working for her Majesty, the Queen of Scotland.A Marvelous Time: the heroes must now take on a band of annoying super heroes and unravel the diabolical scheme of a mad villain to return home.The Quest for the Holy Grail: When the Mouse Queen recruits the PCs to recover the Holy Grail not all is it seems in this adventure of intrigue, riddles, and diabolical princes.The Fugitives of Monster Land: the PCs must recover a giant demon skull to prove their innocence to the king after killing his son in The Quest for the Holy Grail.Wrath of the Gods: The PCs must go in and whoop all the famous deities arses on Mount Olympus and it so happens the Norse Gods are visiting too. However, there's two slight problems: first they'll have to visit the land of the dead and Hades, and next find a way to reach Mount Olympus.And, Killer Dungeon: Bored with their many accomplishments the heroes decide to set out to hunt down a giant killer dungeon who's famous for eating whole kingdoms. If they can survive they'll be famous, but it's tough to kill something you're inside of capable of crushing you between walls, melting you with stomach acid, and messing with your brain...Now also includes vehicle combat rules and rules on heavy weapons for Challenger (at the back of the book) and vehicle stats in the adventures. Thanks Curt!If you enjoy this product, be sure to check out the free game system for this adventure pack: "Challenger RPG" available on this site and other e-book retailers across the internet.Thanks,David L. DostalerAuthor, Challenger RPG

As The Thirteen-Gun Salute opens Jack Aubrey has been reinstated to his command, & he & his old friend Dr Maturin are sailing on a secret mission with a hand-picked crew, most of them shipmates from the adventures & lucrative voyages of earlier years.

When a supervillain's weapon turns Earth's greatest male heroes into its greatest heroines, they enter a whole new world. Can Apex Girl, Velocity Gal, the Mermaid, and Midnight Spectre come together in time to save the world?Brett and Harry are cowboys in the truest sense of the word. They are hard, tough, and serious men who take their jobs and steaks serious.This story started out as an idea I had for a commercial. I liked the idea enough to sit down and write a short story.

Gideon is an Angel of Light, obedient to the commands of his God. Lilith, a servant of Darkness betrays him into Hell...Betrayed he is fallen and cast out.Gideon is an Angel of Light, a fierce warrior, bound by love and devotion to serve his God. He has never questioned the orders of his Lord and when he is told by Lilith, a beautiful angel who has chosen the Darkness, that he is fallen, cast down, he still does not question his devotion to God. He submits to the pain and horrors of Hell, wishing only to serve, even in his fallen state. He is betrayed and led into Hell, broken, heart and soul at the loss of his God.

How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly is the transcendent story of a young woman who, in a twenty-four hour period, journeys through startling moments of self-discovery that lead her to a courageous and life-altering decision.

There's a dark secret in fifteen-year-old Roberta Ritter's past. Her mother was murdered years ago by an unknown killer. Now, Roberta must separate the real from the virtual as she begins her own crusade to discover the cause of a new rash of hate crimes and the truth behind her mother's death.

A short story set on a certain night in the court at Shejidan, on the eve of a birthday...somewhat before Bren Cameron's arrival.

The Trap is a bleak and uplifting personal allegory of relationship with masculinity, authority, and self.This short horror story is based on a nightmare I had some time back. A young boy encounters a beautiful witch who promises to take away his fears...Excerpt:No one believed him that the monsters were real. His uncle grew frustrated and impatient with the nighttime fears the boy should long have outgrown. His aunt was more sympathetic and well-intentioned, but she dismissed them as being merely nightmares. Only he knew that, at night, the truths always revealed themselves.After the lights went out and all was dark, the silence of his room was broken by quiet scratching and moans. He covered his ears against the screeches, but they grew louder and louder until they filled the air, and he could feel them even in his lungs. Then, when a scream threatened to burst forth from his throat, and he could bear it no longer, there was silence. Not one sound. It was the same disquieting nothingness as in a forest filled with animals that sensed a new predator. The monsters were still, but he knew they were there.He uncapped his ears and glanced at his little sister, asleep in the bed next to his. Quiet and undisturbed, she’d slept through it all. He envied her peaceful slumber; she always looked like an angel.Then, there was another noise. Whispers. “She’s coming,” they said. “She’s coming. She’s coming.”

A pair of ultra short stories, almost flash fiction, exploring the murky, ambiguous world of Kathryn Blake through the eyes of two of her associates.John Marchant and Pavel Tomeckova, first introduced in contemporary thriller Viennese Waltz, take centre stage to tell stories of their own.In Scorpion Dance John describes little job in which, for once, he upstages his flamboyant partner, whilst in Hook in the Heart Pavel has another opportunity to explain, as he once explained to Kathryn Blake, how a certain raw recruit first came to the attention of his arm of the service.

The street urchins that will one day be called the Ministry Seven, have a task from Agent Harrison Thorne. It seems simple enough, however their leader Miss Verity Fitzroy discovers that a surprise from her past is tangled up with this mysterious man which leads to a very precarious situation.Tales from the Archives are short stories set in the world of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences.The street urchins that will one day be called the Ministry Seven, have a task from Agent Harrison Thorne. It seems simple enough, however their leader Miss Verity Fitzroy discovers that a surprise from her past is tangled up with this mysterious man which leads to a very precarious situation.Tales from the Archives are short stories set in the world of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences. They explore events mentioned in the novels, characters seen and unseen and may include novel teasers of things to come.