Yellow Peril

The central theme of the book is the fear of an organized Chinese criminal mastermind, Dr. Fu-Manchu, who represents a threat to Western civilization and seeks to establish Asian dominance over Europe and America.

Smith explicitly describes Fu-Manchu as 'the yellow peril incarnate in one man,' embodying the racist fear of a unified Eastern threat.

Fu-Manchu's orchestration of the attack and the dacoit's portrayal reinforce the era's xenophobic fears of Eastern criminal genius.

Smith explicitly invokes the 'phantom Yellow Peril' materializing, linking Eltham's return to China with broader fears of Eastern threat.

Petrie collects clippings about Chinese infanticide and political violence, framing Fu-Manchu as a product of a cruel civilization.