The people of the little Maine town of Frenchville were suddenly faced by a new danger that October night. this is the story of how they individually responded to that danger. It had been the dryest summer and autumn on record. Early in October had come the fire that all had feared so long, a terrific holocaust that swept back and forth under changing winds across the peninsula, that most beautiful portion of the whole beautiful coast. Frenchville had been evacuated. Capriciously, parts of the village were burned and portions left untouched in curious contrast to the blackened hills. Now the people were gradually returning to their homes. In was Jay, the town’s first slectman, who accidently discovered that the new fire in the powder-dry woods had been deliberately set. the men with him, all of them exhausted by the week of fighting the fire night and day, realized what that meant. Someone wanted to destroy what remained of Frenchville. Even as they began again patroling the back woods roads, watching for the slightest flicker of light, each man looked suspisciously at his neighbor. The days of suspense that followed did things to people. Mike Airey, just returned after seven years absence, found that his feelings for Ginny Hanscom, engaged though she might be, had not changed from that moonlit night when they had parted in bitter anger. Tiz Airey, so sturdily aloof and independent, found that perhaps adfter all a woman could not live for herself along. Subdued Polly Hanna, Jonesy, and even Powder Tilton, with nine children and his house destroyed, find a strength they did not know they possessed. then an accident turns out to be murder and horror is added to danger.
Eleanor Mayo (1920–1981) was an American novelist, photographer, and public servant active in the mid twentieth century. She was raised in Southwest Harbor, Maine and spent most of her life on Mount Desert Island. She was the life companion of the well-known Maine novelist Ruth Moore. Mayo published five novels during her life and a posthumously issued short story collection. Mayo’s novel Turn Home was made into the 1950 film Tarnished. Mayo was active in local politics holding several elected positions in Tremont, Maine. She was elected the town’s first female selectman and later served many years as the town’s tax assessor.
