To the despair of his widowed mother, Walter Methven is a carefree young man with no annoying ambition and a circle of dubious friends. In Volume 1 this changes when to his great surprise he learns he has succeeded to the title of his little known relative Lore Erradeen. He vows to put aside his aimless past and do some real good in his new position. One condition of inheriting the title is to spend several days each year on Loch Houran in the West Highlands, at the ancient castle of the Warlock Lord of Erradeen, an evil man who some believe still exerts his power over each Lord Erradeen in turn. In Volume 3, after a contentious meeting with the Warlock Lord, Walter explores his options and with the help of his soul mate Oona finally rejects the machinations of this sinister figure. - Summary by Gerald A Moe