Morgan Miller's life takes a bizarre turn after his retirement as Prof. of History at Wilson Univ. First, his wife leaves him, then he is asked to survey the recently discovered papers of Colin Bisseau, formerly of Wilson Univ., who mysteriously disappeared 30 years ago. As Morgan examines the papers he discovers journals from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Morgan is perplexed why these journals were included with Bisseau's papers, but as he reads them becomes enthralled by the events chronicled. His wife returns with startling news that sends Morgan to the pits of despair. As events beyond his control barrel into his life he is drawn to a long-lost cemetery in the woods of central Indiana, and to a desolate island in the Mediterranean Sea, where he meets a man who claims to be Bisseau, who would be at least 91 years old---or older! Morgan also meets Bisseau's wife, herself a mildly famous person in American history. Bisseau and Morgan verbally duel, Morgan trying to deal with death, Bisseau with life.