Tom Nelson, cynical American expatriate 'gone native' in China, stumbles into the path of the expansionist Japanese government's incursion into Northern China and is catapulted out of his world-weary apathy. Also, if not quite so innocently, caught in the gossamer but deadly web of Japanese plans is Eleanor Joyce, a woman on a mission, full of secrets, pure, bright, and lovely. Enter Mr. Moto, the suave and courageous Japanese agent-committed to serving his emperor yet 'so very very sorry' that innocent lives must hang in the balance. It is he who brought Eleanor and Tom together-and now it is he who must try to save them.