Maurice Northcott marries secretly to avoid avenging and being disinherited by his father in Manchester. He flees the country after accidentally killing his brother-in-law, entrusting his wife and business affairs to a clerk in his father's firm, Nicholas Hayes. Hayes burns the letter to Northcott's wife and trades on his absence to enrich himself. Northcott returns years later and has his life saved by Denzil Harman, a farmer loved by Hayes daughter Madelaine. Together they return to Manchester, Northcott determined to assist Denzil he discovers Denzil is his son ... Northcott spent his years of exile in Australia. (PB)
