The last test

The narrative traces the rise of a celebrated bacteriologist whose appointment as medical director at a state penitentiary and close friendship with the governor bring public acclaim alongside tightly guarded secrets. His sister manages the household and public affairs while he pursues radical research into febrile diseases, returning from distant expeditions with exotic mementoes and several Tibetan retainers. Press reports and personal histories reveal long-standing bonds and a postponed romance, and the story gradually uncovers an episode of panic and menace linked to clandestine experiments. Throughout, subtle suggestions of uncanny, elder-world horrors intrude on scientific ambition and leave the principals unwilling to speak.