The Nine Unknown — Talbot Mundy

A fictional secret society founded by the Mauryan Emperor Asoka around 270 BC is entrusted with preserving knowledge that would be dangerous to humanity if it fell into the wrong hands. The nine unknown men are entrusted with guarding nine books of secret knowledge. In their fight to keep the books secret they face nine Kali worshipers, who sow confusion and masquerade as the true sages. A priest, Father Cyprian, who is in possession of the books wants to destroy them out of Christian piety but a number of other characters are interested in learning their content.