The Black Douglas (novel)

The Black Douglas is a historical fantasy novel by the Scottish author Samuel Rutherford Crockett published in 1899.

It is set in Scotland and France in the fifteenth century and blends history with supernatural elements.

The young Earl William of Douglas stops by Malise McKim's smithy to get his horse shod.

The seduction is interrupted by Malise and the Abbot of Dulce Cor who insist the woman is a witch.

He is in love with Maud, the companion of Margaret Douglas, Fair Maid of Galloway, Earl William's younger sister.

In the delegation is the mysterious woman, who Earl William learns is named Lady Sybilla.

De Retz moves to target Earl William, but Sholto steps in to defend him.

A week or two later, De Retz, Sir Alexander Livingston, Lord Chancellor William Crichton, and James, Earl of Avondale hold a council in Stirling Castle.

Earl William is welcomed to a banquet with the young King James in Edinburgh Castle.

Under questioning by De Retz, Lady Sybilla admits that she had persuaded Earl William to come to Edinburgh to his death.

Malise, Sholto, Laurence, and James of Douglas, Earl William's cousin, go to France, convinced that De Retz has kidnapped Maud and Margaret.

Meanwhile, inside the castle, Laurence discovers an iron altar on which De Retz conducts Satanic sacrifices of children.

Lady Sybilla finds the others in the forest and gives them a list of children killed by De Retz.

[1] Crockett was a best-selling novelist in his day, and The Black Douglas was one of his most famous books.

[4] Scholar Douglas A. Anderson has drawn parallels with the attack of the wargs in The Hobbit.