[1] Montoya's soldiers steal valuables from the burial grounds of native Indians, including a gold death mask from a corpse, and take them to Santa Helena followed by Churi, son of the dead man.

Meanwhile Churi is determined to recover the death mask to honor his father but Dr Helm tells him it is locked in Montoya's strongroom.

Grisham cannot believe Raul when he leads them to the Alvarado hacienda and finds Tessa and Marta tied up and claiming the Queen of Swords was responsible.

That evening Dr Helm, looking for Churi, discovers him in the rose garden trying to break into Montoya's office, but too weak to continue.

Giving back the dagger, Helm takes the death mask and reentering Montoya's office is confronted by a guard raising his pistol.

The Queen throws her dagger killing the guard to Dr Helm's horror, but she ushers him outside as Montoya enters the room.

The story ends where it began at the burial grounds with Churi honoring his father watched by an angel at his side, The Queen of Swords.