Tarzan , the legendary ape-man living in the African jungle, adopts the orphaned lion cub Jad-bal-ja, raising him to become a powerful and loyal companion. Meanwhile, a former housemaid of his devises a scheme to steal the treasures of the lost city of Opar. She engages a Tarzan lookalike to deceive the high priestess of Opar, Queen La, and gain access to the city’s vaults.

Tarzan and the Golden Lion first appeared as a serial in Argosy All-Story Weekly in 1922, and was then published as a novel by A. C. McClurg & Co. in March 1923.