Evil Influence (solution)

by Scott Handelman with additional clues by Kevin Carde and Francis Heaney

First, solvers fill in the straightforward cryptic crossword (see below for full solution).

Solvers should then notice that there is a one-to-one correspondence between the letter O in the grid and the black and white circles to the left of the grid. When the Os are colored black and white, the grid doubles as a Masyu puzzle (clued by the title, which is the literal English translation for “Masyu”). After solving the Masyu, a final message can be read by starting at the top left corner and reading the non-O corners of the path as one moves clockwise: THE FINAL ANSWER IS DRUNK TANK.

AcrossDown
  1. CATHOLIC (2 def; pun)
  2. BALI (hid.)
  3. ION (NO + I rev.)
  4. OUST (JOUST - J)
  5. ROTOR (last letters)
  6. SITE (YETIS - Y rev.)
  7. F(RE)ER (rev.)
  8. RUE (ROUE - O)
  9. TIP (rev.)
  10. ADE (MADE - M)
  11. OW(N)ING
  12. GOL + D (rev.)
  13. SUE (SURE - R)
  14. TOGA (first letters)
  15. KN-ISH (2 def)
  16. T + ONE
  17. C(ANT)OO
  18. WEDGIE (we dig ana. + E)
  19. ALSO (hom.)
  20. SELMA (males anag.)
  21. SOLO (hom.)
  22. OUR (FOUR - F)
  23. OBOE (first letters)
  24. SOURCE (scour anag. + E)
  25. IDI (hom.)
  26. OAT (OATH - H)
  27. ELL (COLLEGE - ends rev.)
  28. ORC + AS
  29. UNIT (hom.)
  30. SALSA (a lass anag.)
  31. SHOD (SHOWED - WE rev.)
  32. RUM (CRUMB - ends)
  33. RHEA (HEAR, last letter moved to front)
  34. BYPASSES (spy’s base anag.)
  1. TI(K)TO(K)
  2. COSIGN (hom.)
  3. ANI (Ian anag.)
  4. T+OTAL (alto anag.)
  5. HU(E)D
  6. LTR (hid.)
  7. I(K)E
  8. CREW (SCREW - S)
  9. BORN (OB rev. + RN)
  10. LOUNGE (on luge anag.)
  11. TRIO (or it anag.)
  12. REGALE (LAGER rev. + E)
  13. FESS (first letters)
  14. PO + INT
  15. OUTPOUR (troop + UU anag.)
  16. ONES (HONEST - ends)
  17. TED (TWEED - WE)
  18. HOLA (hid.)
  19. IG + LOO
  20. CUSSES (EXCUS(S)ES - EX)
  21. TAO (2 def.)
  22. MOOLAH (hom. without final sound)
  23. IRIS (IRISH - H)
  24. MEATUS (mutes a anag.)
  25. AUTUMN (hid. rev.)
  26. L + UL + L
  27. BI(N)DS
  28. ROSA (so far anag. - F)
  29. CRAB (hid. rev.)
  30. DUOS (SOUND rev. - N)
  31. CO + Y
  32. ASP (odd letters)
  33. IRE (EMPIRE - EMP)