Empires have risen and fallen; and behind their fates often stand the grim shadows of warlike men who used them as pawns in their ambitions.

International war is today facing every large nation and war offices delve feverishly into their archives for new war weapons with which to make an easy conquest of their enemies.

Yet we know that a weapon of destruction might become as great a terror to those who use it, as to those whom it is used against. But war-mad men will not listen to this argument; they must be shown. How this can be done, Mr. Wyndham illustrates in this short but intensely interesting story of three catastrophic wars.