The story begins in England with a young Ellinor Wade wanting to run away and elope with her beloved, Lord Bellasis, yet her uncle has other plans for her to marry the wealthy Sir Richard Devine. She submits to her uncle's request and marries Sir Devine. Years later, her son, young Richard Devine, is cast out by his father as he learns the truth of Ellinor's indiscretions with Lord Bellasis all those years ago. Bellasis is found murdered and robbed, young Richard is blamed, and sent away on a convict ship heading towards Australia.
The rest of the play centres around young Richard, who now calls himself Rufus Dawes, and his new shipmate John Rex, who people suggest are like brothers. They're shipwrecked and it is believed Dawes has perished, but he washes up ashore on an abandoned settlement in Australia where he finds a marooned Lieutenant Frere, Mrs Vickers, and their daughter Sylvia. Sylvia takes to Dawes, calling him "good Mr Dawes," much to the displeasure of Frere who is fond of young Sylvia. Dawes, Frere and the Vickers finally set sail and after some time are found by an American vessel and taken to Port Arthur.
Meanwhile John Rex, who organised the mutiny to maroon Frere and the Vickers, has discovered that Sir Richard Devine has passed away and pretends to be his son in order to steal his inheritance. He fails after a grieving Lady Devine fools him into revealing he is not her son.
Years later, Dawes has been recaptured and sent to Hobart and Rex has returned only to be left an invalid after a stroke. Dawes believes he is about to die, but his mother appears to pardon him after learning that John Rex was the one who killed Lord Bellasis, who was both his and Dawes' (Richard Devine's) father.
The manuscript held in The Hanger Collection of Australian Manuscripts in the Fryer Library at the University of Queensland contains the following character notes:
Cast:
Richard Devine, alias rufus Dawes )half brothers
John Rex, alias Lionel Crofton )parts are doubled
Francis Wade
Lieutenant Frere
Reverend North
Major Vicars
Sir Richard Devine
Reverend Meekin
Lord Bellasis
Matt. Gabbett
The crow
Kirkland
Tomkins S.
Smitherson
Mogford
Troke
Lady Devine (Ellinor Wade)
Sarah Purfoy
Sylvia Vickers
Mrs. Vickers
Mrs. Jellico
Mrs. Potherick
Mary Crofton
