 In 1915, a sequel of his first book was published, "The Secrets of the Hohenzollerns" , and wrote for various newspaper columns on his predictions about WWI.In November 1916, he tried to extort $3,000 ($ in 2020) by blackmailing the wife of Johann Heinrich von Bernstorff, the German ambassador to Washington, with some letters "alleged to contain matters showing her infirmities and failings.