NOT AGAIN. It's taken Andy Maxwell two Years-1908-1910-to help his family recover from the vendetta that nearly killed his mother, burned their Sierra Nevada ranch house, and exhumed some long-buried family secrets, including the fact that his father was black. At last, Andy thinks, he can return to the University of California and pursue his history doctorate in peace.

Not so. First of all, it turns out they don't want a miscegenated mongrel in the program. Then it turns out that the marauder, Michael Yellow Squirrel, who started all the trouble didn't stay Shanghaied. He's back for another try at eliminating every last Maxwell. So much for school. Then there's the election. Reform gubernatorial candidate Hiram Johnson wants Andy to run for the California legislature to help foil the railroad barons.

And then there are the women-the debutante beauty and the Arapaho princess... Lots of romance and trouble...