Where the Ghost Horse Runs

The author of Red River Story here chronicles the exploits of Cuthbert Grant, chief of the metis, the half-Indians who populate western Canada. Beginning five years after the Seven Oaks massacre in which Grant played the lead role, the novel details his marriage to his third wife, Marie McGillis. Although deeply in love with Marie, Grant is haunted by the memory of his previous wives, one of whom he put to death in an act of euthanasia. He is also obsessed with securing a homeland for his ``New Nation'' of people. Manipulated by unscrupulous whites, he ultimately comes to tragedy. Throughout, Marie stoically supports him, claiming, ``There's no martyrs here.'' Along the way, their lives become intertwined with some of the most enigmatic figures of the period--Louis Riel, who succeeded Grant as chief of the metis and led them in a disastrous rebellion, and ``General'' James Dickson, who called himself Montezuma II and saw himself as liberator of the Indians. Well-written and authentic, the book should appeal to a wide audience and may attract new readers to Silver's Red River trilogy, which this volume completes. (Aug.)