Richard Whiteston, an Earth Master who blames himself for the death of his wife in childbirth, swears never to set eyes on his daughter, Susanne, and spends years living as a recluse, but, after finally seeing Susanne, he decides he can use her body to bring back the spirit of his long-dead wife; and, meanwhile, Lord Alderscroft, the head of the most powerful White Lodges of Elemental Masters, sends Lord Peter to Yorkshire to try and stop the necromancer...