A sudden and mysterious disease which threatens the world's timber supplies ..a powerful international organisation which aims at world domination ..a plan to create a master - race by selective breeding and by the elimination of the unfit ..these are the hazards which Dr Palfry and his second - in - command Stefan Andromovitch encounter at the remote forestry project in California.To prevent the world - wide destruction of trees and to topple the fanatic organistion involves Dr Palfrey in one of his most dangeropus and exciting adventures yet.