Abstract: In a fuel burning stove having a heating chamber positioned above a firebox and covering a rear discharge opening as well as a major portion of the firebox upper wall, a vertical exhaust path is established between the discharge opening and the flue. A sliding baffle plate located in the heating chamber is manually controlled by a handle and externally mounted connecting link mechanism to selectively establish the vertical exhaust path or a tortuous exhaust passage. The tortuous passage is S-shaped causing hot gases to circulate through the heating chamber to increase the amount of heat radiated into the surrounding air. A forward damper responsive to movement of the baffle exposes a forward discharge opening when the vertical exhaust path is open to directly exhaust smoke from the forward region of the firebox prior to opening of the stove door to add fuel. The handle retains the door closed when the vertical exhaust path is closed by the baffle.