Test the fabled powers of the trees nectar, sip the celestial juice and bask in the throb of exultation while amidst the the jungles of Australia. (Lyle Wilson Holden / Izzy Schurr)
"The Devil Plant," a 1923 short story by Holden is from the first year of Weird Tales magazine. This nearly 100-year-old story is about romance, betrayal and revenge. Silvela Castelar and Rodriguez start out as good friends.
Castelar is an instigator or ruin for Rodriguez. The two friends work together and Castelar, a very deceptive and manipulative genius steals a large sum of money from their employer and pins the blame on Rodriguez. Rodriguez gets out of doing jail time, but his lucrative career is over, and he leaves the U.S. to live in Australia.
While Rodriguez is living in the land down-under, he's poor, yet happy in his new line of work, especially when he becomes romantically involved with a woman named Mercedes. Castelar comes back in Rodriguez's life and Mercedes winds up with Castelar.
The Devil tree is known to some people as a tree of heaven, its a tree that breeds a rare delicious nectar with a wonderful rejuvenating power. The tree can also lead to a torturous death to those who come to close to it. Rodriguez plots to get Castelar close to the tree, and hopes the strangling power of its thick leaves will be the death of Castelar.
Castelar also knows the dangers of the trees power of death, but the possible reward of drinking its liquid and staying young and being loved by a beautiful women for eternity is a strong selling point for wanting to get close to the Devil Plant.
To have endless youth, love and money, or die long before your time is due are the presented rewards or risks from the Devil Plant. Izzy Schurr, aka, Mark Schurr
