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Exact textual stateDraft

The Purple Heart of Erlik

Part of The Purple Heart of Erlik

StateDraft 2Surviving witnesses1TSS catalogue units18
Textual identity is not textual authority. “Catalogue primary/default” selects the default catalogue representation; it does not mean that this wording is automatically Howard’s most authoritative text.

Characters in this exact text

Arline EllisArline Ellis — woman blackmailed by Duke Tremayne into attempting to steal the Heart of ErlikOn Pagefirst: Opening paragraph.TakayamiBaron Takayami — Japanese official connected with Arline's Canton blackmail backstoryMentionedfirst: Tremayne refers to the night in Takayami's apartments.Duke TremayneDuke Tremayne — adventurer and blackmailer in The Purple Heart of Erlik / Nothing to LoseOn Pagefirst: Opening paragraph.Lady Elizabeth WilloughbyLady Elizabeth Willoughby — wealthy English collector whose identity Arline impersonatesMentionedfirst: Tremayne describes her while planning the theft.Wild Bill ClantonWild Bill ClantonOn Pagefirst: Named in the alley after Arline leaves Tremayne.Woon YuenWoon Yuen — Shanghai antique merchant and possessor/worshipper of the Heart of ErlikOn Pagefirst: Named during Tremayne's explanation of the robbery.Yao ChinYao Chin — Woon Yuen's hatchetmanOn Pagefirst: Woon Yuen orders him to follow Arline.Yun LengYun Leng — second follower of Woon Yuen sent with Yao ChinOn Pagefirst: Woon Yuen orders Yao Chin to take Yun Leng.

Surviving manuscript evidence

The records below describe surviving physical typescripts, carbons, manuscript material and documentary catalogue evidence for this exact textual state. TSS numbers identify physical catalogue units; they are not story or draft IDs.

Draft 2 — surviving Howard typescriptHoward typescript
Extent18 pagesCompletenessCompleteness uncertain

Physical extent: 18-page untitled typescript; source calls it complete but also says one or two pages are missing

TSS: 20324, 20326, 20069–20062, 20060–20061, 93687, 61603–61605, 20327, 10616

Untitled Howard typescript with contradictory completeness description in the Editorial Notes.

Additional documentary notes

  • Untitled Witness: First Cuts describes Draft 2 as untitled. (witness level)
  • Conflicting completeness evidence: The Editorial Notes call Draft 2 a complete 18-page typescript and also state that one or two pages are missing. (source description)
  • Authorial Pencil Markings: First Cuts notes pencil strike-throughs and underlinings in this typescript and treats their function cautiously. (witness)

Source: First Cuts: The Veiled Manuscripts v1.4, The Purple Heart of Erlik, Editorial Notes p. 197; Draft 2 pp. 219–235

Published in

The Veiled Manuscripts - First Cuts: The Drafts and FragmentsREH Foundation PressJune 2026 (paperback) est. July 27, 2026 (hardcover)↗