Pay The Devil was first published in the UK only by Barrie & Rockcliffe in 1962 under the authorship of Harry Patterson. The book went out of print shortly after its first publication, was never reprinted and never appeared in paperback. The author was in fact Jack Higgins and in 1999 Higgins created an entirely new framework to the original book, added some scenes and made some changes throughout.

The novel is about a Confederate colonel who escapes to Ireland after the Civil War, only to get caught up in a conflict over there. Taking the guise of a legendary outlaw, he wages his own rebellion to assist the common people.