Cirrus@Austlit

The plot of the original 1893 version deals with the adventurous career of Edgar Dalmore, a young English officer who, after quarreling with his father (a Cornish mine-owner) travels to Australia. On his arrival he is arrested and charged with the murder of his father. The crime was committed, however, by his cousin. Unable to prove his innocence, Dalmore escapes into the bush where he is befriended by cattle-rustlers. His military background eventually sees him lead the group and he becomes renowned as Captain Dart. A romance ensues with a banker's daughter but he is betrayed by another woman who's love he has not returned. After managing to escape the law complications arise when his murdering cousin arrives in Australia and attempts to defraud investors in a worthless mine. Dart becomes aware of his cousin's crimes and although unable to foil a plot to blow up the mine he is able to get his revenge, clear his name and win the hand of the woman he loves.

For their 1901 reworked version, Lincoln and Adam Pierre (Alfred Dampier) undertook considerable changes. They removed the British setting that started the original play and changed Dalmore from the son of a Cornish mine-owner to the son of a wealthy Australian station owner. His bushranging nom de plume was also changed from Captain Dart to the more romantically-sounding Captain Midnight. Other changes included the addition of a fifthact and the expansion of the previously minor role of publican Ned Harling (pub keeper). This was done in order to provide Alfred Dampier with a suitable role, as age and an expanding waistline had by then made it implausible for him to play the Dampier to play the lead. The expanded character subsequently became the cripple Humpy Ned.

The storyline of the re-worked version, based on the 1911 film, sees Dalimore tricked out of his inheritance by his cousin, Vincent Lennox. When is father is killed during a robbery (orchestrated by Lennox), Edgar is accused of the murder and is given a life sentence. He escapes with the help of Ned Harling (a bushman who worked for his father) and Ned's daughter Elsa (who loves Edgar). Despite Elsa's affections, Edgar is in love with a squatter's daughter Thelma Warren. A jealous Elsa betrays him to the police, but then changes her mind and helps him escape. Elsa comes forward with evidence that he did not kill his father. The killers try to kill Elsa but Edgar rescues her and in doing so clears his own name.