The central character of Behind a Mask is Jean Muir. Jean is not merely the ruthless, vengeful perpetrator of a plot to get ahead. She is also a remarkably observant woman, with keen powers of analysis and judgment that can turn disadvantages into steppingstones. Jean draws upon what talents she has, and these are superlative. Her consummate acting skills become obvious at the end of the first chapter, when after convincing a group that she is an innocent nineteen-year-old, she adjourns to her room and adopts an expression of fierce disdain. "Come, the curtain is down," she declares, "so I may be myself for a few hours, if actresses ever are themselves."

Jean undergoes an amazing metamorphosis. She takes from her head "the long abundant braids," wipes "the pink" from her face, takes out "several pearly teeth" and undresses to emerge "a haggard, worn, and moody woman of...