Tale of love, murder, revenge and madness. The belle of Palmerston falls in love with a poor farmer's son and he goes to the diggings on the Cardona to earn enough to marry her despite parental opposition. He strikes it rich but is murdered on his return. Her grief turns to vengeance and she takes a position as barmaid on the diggings where she finally discovers and shoots the murderer. She goes mad and is committed to the Dunedin asylum. The narrator was a visitor to the asylum and told this story by her doctor. (PB)