Romance of the bush near Port Phillip, Victoria. Archie Ainslie, nephew of a Scottish merchant in Melbourne, works on the Hemphill Station as manager. He becomes acquainted with their neighbours, the Langleys, especially the daughter Nellie, and does what he can to mitigate the alcoholism of Mr Langley, which is encouraged by the villainous neighbour Gardner. Gardner, a fugitive thief and drover from Scotland who prospered as a squatter, himself desires to marry Nellie. Meanwhile, Archie's sister Lizzie marries her uncle's manager, John Ormiston. Archie is engaged to Nellie and they visit Melbourne for the wedding and shortly afterwards Nellie's father dies during one of his drunken spells. Gardner is drowned. Nellie and Archie marry and the rest of the tale is played out against the development of the colony through goldrushes etc. (PB)
