"The unfortunate Rosalina St. Almo is torn from her father's arms by vicious banditti, who slaughter her father before her eyes. Fortunately she is rescued from the villains by young Rosalva di Barozzi, who takes her to his father's palace in Venice. But more terror awaits her there when a hideous sorceress at a masked ball prophesies her doom! Is the mysterious sorceress trying to help Rosalina escape her enemies' clutches, or is she scheming to sacrifice her in a demonic ritual? Can Rosalina evade the assassins sent to destroy her and solve the mystery of the sorceress in time? This edition reprints the complete text of the 1815 edition and includes a new introduction for mo dern readers."