Cirrus@Austlit

Set in New York State, England and Europe. A judge's spoiled daughter, Nadine Halsey, is expelled for high spirits from another ladies' academy. She refuses to marry the man he has chosen for her, Gilbert Wetherill, falling in love with the scheming and unscrupulous Captain Ormond instead. Her cousin Maud loves Gilbert and encourages Nadine in her love for the captain - and when the judge is killed on his way to avert the duel between the rivals, Maud tells Nadine that he accepted her marriage to Ormond and hides a letter telling the truth. Gilbert leaves when Maud gives him a false message from Nadine, and she lies to N. about G. On the eve of marrying Ormond, N. discovers his true nature and witnesses his murder of a pursuer. She refuses to marry him or swear not to inform so he carries her to a New York house and imprisons her there, then transfers her to a lunatic asylum. She escapes and he marries her by force. The steamer carrying the couple back to New York explodes and he is pronounced dead. A year later she marries Gilbert but Osmond turns up on the wedding day to claim her. Bigamy threatens. Osmond forces N. to leave with him and Gilbert believes himself deserted. Osmond dies but Maud continues to aid the estrangement of the lovers... Also includes a fire, a shipwreck etc. (PB)