Of One Blood: Or, the Hidden Self

Dianthe wanders into the woods, lost in thought and sorrow. She wonders how to escape from Aubrey. She loses her way and comes across Aunt Hannah’s cabin. Aunt Hannah says she knew Dianthe’s mother and calls Dianthe “Mira’s gal.” She relates the old story of the family. Hannah was enslaved by the Livingstons and had several children by the master, old Livingston. Mira was the only child she managed to keep. Years later, old Livingston’s son, Aubrey’s father, enslaved Mira. She gave birth to a son, Reuel. Dianthe startles and asks Hannah if she knows where he is. She responds that she saw him a year ago and he supports her financially. Hannah goes on, saying that Mira also gave birth to a beautiful daughter. It was Dianthe, and Hannah is her grandmother. Dianthe is shocked at the realization that Reuel is her brother. Hannah says that such things were common during Black people’s enslavement. When Livingston’s new wife, a white Southern woman, learned the family secrets, she sent Mira away. She tells Dianthe to leave Aubrey, as he is her half-brother. Hannah says that Mira’s children all have a lotus-lily birthmark. Dianthe faints from the shock. When she comes to, she thinks of the horrifying situation. She starts for the Livingston house, feeling hopeless and desperate.

For days, Dianthe remains isolated in her room. Her childhood memories return. She recalls her days as a student, the prizes she won, her time with the singers, critical praise of her voice, her travels in Europe, and the music that touched her soul. Days later, Dianthe gets out and spends time with Aubrey. She even sings when Aubrey asks her.

Aubrey awakes early feeling dazed. Dianthe enters his room and changes his glass of water for a glass containing poison. Aubrey seizes her and forces her to drink the liquid herself. Aubrey bids her an ironic farewell, and she responds by wishing God has “mercy on [their] guilty souls” (170).

In the morning, Aubrey wakes up and eats breakfast as usual. Then, he orders his attendant to pack his things and prepare the carriage. Dianthe sits alone in her room. She knows she is dying and fear seizes her. She believes, however, that “her spiritual person must survive the grave” (172). As she starts agonizing in her loneliness, Aunt Hannah comes to be by her side. Hannah promises to avenge her. Dianthe experiences severe pains but refuses any help. She is still waiting for Reuel to return. For a moment, she calms, and there are distant echoes of music and voices singing as “the welcome of ancient Ethiopia to her dying daughter of the royal line” (174). Dianthe rises and cries that she sees her Ethiopian ancestors and the ancient kings, the classic musicians and the masters of song, and feels they are calling her home.

Dianthe then hears the distant sound of wheels approaching, then footsteps, until Reuel enters the room. Dianthe runs to him, and he holds her until she dies in his arms.

Aubrey wanders alone at midnight, wondering if Dianthe is alive. He hears a voice calling his name in his ears and thinks it is Dianthe’s. He sees two figures. One is Dianthe, and the other is Molly Vance. Aubrey heads to Dianthe’s room, where Reuel, Charlie, Ai, and Ababdis await. Aubrey is implicated in both Dianthe’s and Molly’s death, but avoids judicial punishment later thanks to a team of lawyers.

Reuel, Ai, Ababdis, and Aunt Hannah visit Aubrey in his study. Ai says that the will of the God of Ergamenes will be done. He walks around Aubrey chanting a song in his language, then stands facing him. Ai places Aubrey into a hypnotic state and whispers in his ear. Later, Charlie asks Ai if justice is done. Ai states: “Justice will be done” (180). Reuel says nothing.

Some days later, Aubrey’s body is found floating on the river where Molly died. Ai’s command in Aubrey’s ear was “death by thine own hand” (180). Aubrey killed himself following the traditional laws of Telassar, where murderers became their own executioners.

Reuel returns to the hidden city of Telassar, bringing his grandmother, Aunt Hannah, with him. He spends his days teaching people about what he learned from the modern world and reunites with the Queen. However, his memories remain. The sins of the past remain unsolved. Only God can solve the problem of prejudice and prove that people of all races are “of one blood” (181).