The Van Der Byl Diamond Company, willed by its founder to his son Benedict, turns out to be a bequest of hatred. For it is couched in such terms as to offer him the instrument of destruction of his bitterest rival. "Destroy Johnny" is the old man's implacable message. And so, consumed with envy for his own foster-brother, Benedict sets out in ruthless pursuit of this goal - and Johnny is plunged into a maelstrom of greed, vengence and murder . . .
