The House of Om

Introduction

“The House of Om” is a synopsis for a story by Robert E. Howard, written in the 1930s. The narrative unfolds with a series of thrilling events involving political corruption, sinister plots, and supernatural elements as the protagonist, Bill Blanton, navigates a web of danger and deception in a seaside town.

Cross Plains Library has an original draft of this synopsis. Howard’s agent, Kline, received the story on June 20, 1934.

Detailed summary

Chapter 1

Bill Blanton hears a cry for help while walking along a side street in a seaport town. Investigating, he stumbles over the body of Bixby, a man he had fought earlier that day. As Blanton examines the scene, Corrigan, a detective working for the city’s political boss, Joel Bainbridge, appears and accuses Blanton of murder. Instead of taking him to the police, Corrigan detains and tortures Blanton, trying to coerce a confession.

A mysterious masked man, Togruk Khan, intervenes, freeing Blanton and rendering Corrigan unconscious with a gas. Togruk Khan leads Blanton to a building in the Oriental quarter, revealing himself as a Mongol and a servant of the enigmatic Mr. Om. Togruk Khan explains that Bainbridge had framed Blanton to control his valuable mineral concession from a South American republic. Togruk Khan tries to recruit Blanton to help overthrow Bainbridge, but Blanton suspects a hidden agenda and refuses. Blanton identifies a drug in the offered wine, smashes the goblet, and escapes after a fierce fight.

In the subterranean tunnels, Blanton sees Bainbridge observing Corrigan being tortured by masked men. He escapes to the surface, emerging in a tenement courtyard just as a riot breaks out in the Oriental quarter, diverting the city’s police and firemen.

Chapter 2

Blanton returns to his hotel to retrieve his hidden concession papers but finds them stolen. Desperate, he confronts Bainbridge, accusing him of theft and framing. During their confrontation, Corrigan arrives and attacks Blanton. In the ensuing struggle, Bainbridge is killed by a stray bullet. Blanton, fearing he will be framed for this murder as well, knocks Corrigan unconscious and flees.

Outside, Blanton meets a man named Hawksbane, a private investigator who claims to have followed Mr. Om from China. Hawksbane explains that Om, a Mongolian devil-worshipper, had ordered the riot to divert attention while his men killed Bainbridge. They find evidence in the house that Bainbridge and Corrigan were murdered by Om’s men and replaced by imposters created through advanced plastic surgery.

Chapter 3

Blanton and Hawksbane are arrested by police who claim Bainbridge ordered their detention. At Bainbridge’s house, they find Bainbridge and Corrigan alive, despite Blanton having seen them dead. Blanton realizes they are dealing with Om’s imposters. The imposters drug Blanton and Hawksbane.

Chapter 4

Hawksbane wakes chained in a cell and is confronted by Mr. Om. Om reveals his plan to corrupt the city through drugs and a manufactured plague, reducing the population to idiocy and debauchery. Om plans to use Blanton to exploit his mining concession for the cult’s benefit. Om’s secret of power is his skill in plastic surgery, allowing him to replace influential figures with his own men.

Chapter 5

Blanton wakes in another part of the city, unaware of Hawksbane’s fate. Togruk Khan attempts to mold a duplicate of Blanton using a plaster cast. Blanton escapes during an attack by a madman and encounters Bixby, who reveals the frame-up before being killed. Blanton sees Bainbridge and Corrigan (actually imposters) driving by and realizes the depth of Om’s deception.

Chapter 6

Blanton seeks refuge with Jack Ridley, a wealthy friend. Ridley mentions a mystic named Gondai, who Blanton recognizes as Togruk Khan. Disguised, Blanton attends a séance led by Gondai, where he witnesses disturbing rituals and the hypnotized disappearance of Constance Reynolds, a young heiress.

Chapter 7

Blanton is approached by someone he thinks is Hawksbane, who abducts Constance. Realizing it’s an imposter, Blanton kills him and rescues the real Hawksbane from drowning. Hawksbane reveals Om’s plan to unleash a plague. They deduce that Togruk Khan is double-crossing Om and return to the hunting lodge to confront him.

Chapter 8

At the lodge, Togruk Khan tries to coerce Constance into marrying him, promising to betray Om. Om arrives and kills Togruk Khan using hypnotic powers. Hawksbane, attempting to confront Om, is rendered helpless by Om’s hypnosis. Blanton, hiding outside, shoots Om through the head, ending his reign of terror. They plan to expose Om’s plot to the world.

Characters

  • Bill Blanton: The protagonist, framed for murder and caught in a web of political corruption and sinister plots.
  • Joel Bainbridge: The political boss of the city, initially framed for murder by Om.
  • Corrigan: Bainbridge’s right-hand man and detective, involved in framing Blanton.
  • Togruk Khan: A Mongol servant of Mr. Om, involved in various schemes.
  • Mr. Om (John Stark): The main antagonist, a master of plastic surgery and head of a Mongolian devil-worshipping cult.
  • Hawksbane: A private investigator pursuing Mr. Om for revenge.
  • Yun Wang: An eccentric old Chinaman who reveals Om’s true identity before dying.
  • Jack Ridley: Blanton’s wealthy friend who provides temporary refuge.
  • Constance Reynolds: A young heiress targeted by Om and his cult.

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