Cirrus@Austlit

Klaus and Ernst are brothers but brought up under vastly different circumstances. The latter has had all the advantages of education while the former is rough, preserves his Dutch accent and his brusqueness of manner. Ernest is foolish, however, and becomes entangled with an adventuress/seducer, Camilla, even though engaged to marry Rosa. Camilla, in partnership with the swindler Brand Walton blackmail him with love letters he has written to her, forcing him to forge his fathers signature on a cheque. In the meantime Walton has fallen for Rosa, and when he discovers how Ernst raised the money he decides to use the information for his own purposes. To make matters worse, Camilla reneges on her deal with Ernst and demands even more money. All the while, Klaus and Tom Clancy, his partner in a green grocery business, have been watching the villains and decide to expose the blackmailers. 'The moral is, that a rough exterior and an ignorant mind, animated by a good motive, will rise superior to refinement when affected by indecision of character' (Sydney Morning Herald 28 November 1876, 5).