Plot summary
Domini Enfilden is a wealthy Englishwoman who travels to French Algeria, accompanied only by her maid. A devout Catholic, Domini is seeking peace after many years enduring the apostasy of her late father, Lord Rens. Converted to Catholicism by Lady Rens, he renounced the faith when she deserted him. On a train travelling south to the oasis town of Beni-Mora, [fn 1] she encounters a rude fellow, who is taciturn and self-absorbed. At the southern terminus of Beni-Mora, she hires an Arab guide, Batouch, who is handsome and something of a poet. She sees the odd European from the train deliberately avoid the Catholic priest of the local church. Batouch informs her that the fellow is also English, and furthermore speaks both French and a little Arabic.
Domini, on her own, visits the little church in Beni-Mora, where she meets Father Roubier, the priest. Later, Batouch takes her to visit the garden of Count Anteoni; they pass a grand hotel, closed for the season, with a tower on top. Smaïn, the garden's gatekeeper, allows her into the walled villa and garden, where she delights in the peaceful atmosphere. She encounters Count Anteoni, who explains he also owns the grand hotel. The Count and Domini discuss the attraction of the desert, which he tells her some Arabs call "the Garden of Allah". He gives permission for her to visit the tower of the grand hotel, which she does the next day. While admiring the grand vista of the desert from the tower, she stumbles into the odd traveller. He speaks with her for the first time, using French. When she speaks of the promise of inner peace in the desert, he expresses surprise; he sees only turmoil.
That evening Batouch takes Domini to the Cafe Tahar, where the Ouled Naïl dancers are to be found. Batouch's cousin Hadj latches onto them, seeking to divert them to the cafe of the story-tellers, as he fears the dancer Irena. Batouch bribes Tahar to fetch Irena from another cafe. Meanwhile Domini notices the strange traveller is also at the cafe, watching the dancers. When Irena comes to dance she recognizes Hadj and tries to stab him. The cafe erupts into a panic; the stranger saves Domini. He offers to escort her back to their hotel. At the Hotel du Désert, when pressed, he admits to knowing English. He finally tells Domini his name is Boris Androvsky.
Domini has Batouch bring her a horse to ride, one with spirit. She wishes to ride alone in the desert, but Boris won't allow it. He has never ridden a horse before, and is thrown the first time he mounts. But he climbs back on and rides with her to the small nearby oasis of Sidi-Zerzour, where an immense guide named Mustapha takes them in hand. Domini is impressed with the pilgrims devotions at the Mosque of Zerzour, but Boris remains outside. Back at Beni-Mora, Boris secretly practices riding each morning before daylight, which pleases Domini who has observed him unaware. They take to riding through the desert countryside around the oasis, but Boris never opens up to her about himself.
Domini takes Boris to meet Count Anteoni, only to find he has invited Father Rubier to lunch. Boris is plainly ill-at-ease with the priest. The Count tells Domini he will be leaving for the desert town of Beni-Haseen, implying he may not return. He encourages her to treat the garden as her own while he is gone. He also persuades to allow the Sand Deviner to read her destiny. The Deviner foretells her leaving Beni-Mora for the south, travelling in a palanquin during a ferocious storm. Domini refuses to hear more, but the Count listens to the rest and seems troubled. After he has departed Beni-Mora, Domini wanders alone in the Count's garden, where Boris finds her. Falling to his knees he confesses his love for her. His passion and the effort it cost him to open up impress Domini.
Ten days have passed; Domini and Boris are married in the little church, despite Father Roubier's grave misgivings about the groom. Batouch has organized a large expedition of camels, horses, grooms, and attendants, with supplies and tents for the newlyweds journey south on the road to Toumbuctu. A great storm is blowing but the couple ride in a palanquin on the back of a camel. The storm tapers off, and the couple travel thru the larger Garden of Allah, visiting distant towns and oases. At Ben-Haseen, Domini encounters the Count, who reveals he has converted to Islam and will not return to Beni-Mora. He is obviously troubled by her marriage, but makes no effort to interfere.
While visiting the French garrison town of Mogor, a disturbing incident occurs with Captain De Trevignac, who initially welcomes the couple. Something passes between him and Boris that eludes Domini's understanding. They move on to Amara, another desert town, where Boris becomes morose and avoids Domini. She is visited by Father Max Beret, who enlivens her with his cheerful ways. But upon Ouardi bringing out a bottle of liquor, the good father recognizes it as a brand produced only at the Trappist monastery of El-Largani near Tunis. He tells Domini that the monks will produce no more of it, for the only one of them who knew the secret of its making ran away a year ago, after twenty years of devotion.
Domini at last confronts Boris about his reticence, imploring him to reveal his sorrows. He yields and confesses he is the runaway Trappist monk, and that De Trevignac had recognized him at Mogor. He tells her the story of his upbringing and his turning away from the world to become a monk. He explains that one day he heard a voice tempting him with a life of wealth and careless ease, so he fled El-Largani. His brother in Tunis gave him clothes and a large sum of money, so he could travel. He has committed no crime, and no one is pursuing him, yet he cannot find peace in the world. Domini realizes that at heart he is still a monk, and will never be happy in their marriage. She decides not to tell him that she is pregnant.
Because of her faith, Domini will no longer allow him to touch her. Instead, they hurry back to Beni-Mora, where she dismisses all her attendants. She and Boris take the train north to Tunis, where she delivers him up to the monastery gate at El-Largani then departs in a coach. She has compelled him to express his love for her by fulfilling his lifelong vows. They part forever, he to a monk's cell and a life of repentance and hard labor, she to the garden Count Anteoni has sold to her. The book concludes with a view of her six years later, sitting in the garden with her young son Boris.
