The Jade God · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for The Jade God by Alan Sullivan.
Chapter 1
I: The Old House
John Derrick and his sister Edith move into Beech Lodge, a house with a mysterious past. Derrick feels an inexplicable connection to the place, sensing that someone died in the study and that the house itself has chosen them. The Thursbys, the previous tenants, visit and hint at a sudden death in the house. Perkins, the maid, unsettles Edith with her strange expression. Derrick becomes increasingly convinced that the house holds secrets tied to its former occupant, Millicent.
Chapter 2
II: Perkins
Derrick and Perkins engage in a deep, mystical conversation about the lingering evil in Beech Lodge, particularly in the study where Mr. Millicent died. Perkins reveals her belief that the room has absorbed emotions and evil over the years, and that Millicent's spirit is trying to communicate. Derrick feels a supernatural connection to the house and begins to perceive vibrations from the past. The chapter also includes an interruption by inventory men, Jarrad and Dawkins, and ends with Derrick sensing that the key to the mystery is near.
Chapter 3
III: The Man from the East
Derrick struggles with his writing at Beech Lodge, feeling increasingly drawn to the study and the portrait of Millicent. Edith expresses unease about the house, feeling superficial and threatened. Perkins reveals that Millicent's gardener, missing for two years, has returned and wishes to be rehired. Derrick interviews the man, who appears mysterious and unsettling.
Chapter 4
IV: Jean
Two weeks after the staff at Beech Lodge is completed, Mrs. Millicent and her daughter Jean walk near their old home for the first time since the tragedy. Jean feels an impulse to pass by Beech Lodge, and they see Perkins at the window and Martin in the garden. Later, Jean visits Derrick at Beech Lodge to discuss Martin's presence and the lingering influence of her father's death. Derrick shares his sense of purpose and the mysterious forces drawing them together, while Perkins is seen in a somnambulistic state, mourning her master.
Chapter 5
V: The Paper-Knife
Derrick visits Sergeant Burke at the Bamberley police station to discuss the Millicent murder case. He presents a small dark green object—the paper-knife—that he found, shocking Burke. Derrick probes Burke's views on criminal psychology, coincidence, and the behavior of suspects, revealing that Martin (the gardener) returned from Burma and Canada because he 'had to come,' and that Perkins sleepwalks and is drawn to the desk where Mr. Millicent was found. Burke, cautious but intrigued, agrees to share information unofficially, hoping to solve the baffling case.
Chapter 6
VI: God—Or Devil?
Derrick shows Sergeant Burke the jade god he found, a small, malevolent-looking image carved from jade. They discuss the case and Derrick proposes an inductive method, assuming a murderer and working backwards. Derrick reflects on the four key figures: Perkins, Martin, the peddler, and Jean Millicent. Edith arrives and Derrick gives her a bangle from the peddler, who has come from Burma. Derrick and Jean share a moment of connection, and Edith later tells Derrick that Jean feels strangely linked to her father's death and won't marry until it's resolved.
Chapter 7
VII: A Mysterious Peddler
Derrick encounters a mysterious peddler who speaks in a strange chant and converses with Martin in an unknown language. Suspicious, Derrick retrieves the jade god from its hiding place, makes a wax copy, and arms himself. He questions Martin about the peddler and the night of Mr. Millicent's death, probing for connections. The peddler later reveals knowledge of the jade god's origins in an Indo-Chinese temple, claiming the original may have a life of its own. Derrick visits Sergeant Burke to report an anticipated robbery attempt at Beech Lodge, reigniting interest in the Millicent case.
Chapter 8
VIII: The Power of the Unknown
Derrick reveals to Edith that Martin has been charged with complicity in Millicent's murder, causing Perkins to drop a tray of coffee cups in shock. Later, alone in the study, Derrick takes out the jade god and becomes mesmerized by its evil allure, feeling the pull of the East and a temptation to abandon his quest for justice. Sergeant Burke arrives, and they discuss the case, with Derrick deciding not to destroy the jade god yet. Burke searches the cottage while Martin stands staring at the peddler's body.
Chapter 9
IX: The Escape
Derrick visits the Millicents to share his findings, revealing the peddler's strange knowledge and the discovery of the kris. Jean theorizes that the peddler, Blunt, may have exerted an occult influence over Martin and Perkins, and that his death does not end that power. Sergeant Burke arrives with the shocking news that Blunt has escaped from custody, having never actually died. Derrick proposes a risky plan to recreate the murder scene at Beech Lodge in hopes of forcing a confession from Martin, and Burke reluctantly agrees.
Chapter 10
XI: A Strange Confession
Derrick visits Martin in Bamberley jail, where Martin confesses the truth about his wife's involvement in Millicent's death and the influence of the jade god. Blunt, the peddler, reveals the god's evil power and demands its return to Burma. Derrick frees Martin, who returns to the cottage.
Chapter 11
XII: “I Love You!”
Derrick returns to Beech Lodge to find Edith busy and practical, providing a stabilizing presence. He shares some details from the jail visit, and Edith advises him to protect Jean from the grim details. Derrick then visits the Millicents, where Mrs. Millicent greets him warmly, and he asks permission to destroy the jade image, which she grants. The chapter ends with a growing sense of relief and the budding romance between Derrick and Jean.
Chapter 12
XIII: The Sacrifice
Three days after the events, Mrs. Millicent and Jean visit Beech Lodge. Derrick destroys the jade god on the hearth, feeling a sharp pang as a splinter pierces his thumb. The Thursbys arrive and discuss Perkins and Martin. Martin has left a note and departed, possibly for the Orient. Derrick arranges for the Millicents to move out and asks for Jean's hand in marriage a month from that day.
Chapter 13
XIV: A Broken Tile
Four months after the initial inventory, Mr. Jarrad and Mr. Dawkins return to Beech Lodge to reassess the contents. They discuss the recent events, including Mrs. Millicent's suicide and the mysterious foreigner's escape. While inspecting the study, they discover that a stain previously noted on the desk has vanished, and a tile on the hearth is cracked. Derrick enters and confirms he remembers when the tile was broken.
