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The Way of the World Synopsis

Peter Sturton, a politician and head of the machine, decides to support Walter Croydon, a rising young attorney, for the position of Governor of the State. Croyden is in love with Beatrice Farley, a young society belle, but they have not been formally engaged. Croyden, on the evening that he is to take Beatrice to a society affair, meets Sturton at the club, and becomes slightly intoxicated. He is in this condition when he calls upon Beatrice, and she refuses to accompany him. The next morning Croyden comes back and apologizes for his condition of the night before, and begs Beatrice to forgive him and promise to marry him. She tells him that she is leaving for Europe and that she will give him an answer when she returns. John Nevill, a man about town is a personal friend of Sturton's. Nevill is unhappy married, but he and his wife still continue to live together. Nevill decides to go abroad. As the boat is ready to sail, Nevill sees Beatrice bid Croyden goodbye and come on board. He is attracted by her beauty, makes her acquaintance on the ship, and becomes infatuated with her. He begins paying her attention without telling her that he is married. Beatrice comes to Monte Carlo where Nevill is staying, and finds that she loves him in return. Nevill proposes that they go to Paris to be married, and Beatrice consents, but friends of Nevill's, who have arrived from the States, betray the fact that he is already married. Beatrice, heartbroken, begins packing to return home. Nevill pleads with her to no avail. After Beatrice leaves, Nevill takes to drink, and Mrs. Nevill persuades him to return home with her. In the meantime, Croyden has married Beatrice, and has become Governor. Sturton calls upon the Nevills and asks them to attend the inaugural ball to meet the Governor and his bride. Nevill discovers that the Governor's wife is no other than Beatrice, and he becomes crafty in an attempt to win her away from Croyden. Beatrice sees the ravages of dissipation in Nevill, and listening to his plea, promises to become his friend. They are seen much together, but Croyden is of an unsuspicious nature, and Beatrice believes that there is nothing wrong in her friendship for Nevill. Time elapses and Croyden is running for reelection. Sturton has a falling-out with the Governor and is opposing him. The Croydens now have a child, a boy a few months old. A friend goes to Croyden and tells him that the people are beginning to talk of Nevill's being seen so much with Mrs. Croyden, but the Governor refuses to believe it is more than idle gossip. To turn the people against Croyden, Sturton causes an article to be published saying that while the Governor has been away on a tour of the State to secure votes, his wife has been seen continually in the company of a certain man whom the paper does not mention. When Croyden sees this, Nevill tells him that surely he can trust his wife, and Croyden dismisses the matter from his mind. Nevill decides upon a plan to turn Croyden from his wife, believing that Beatrice will then come to him. He gives Sturton a paragraph to put in the papers on the day before election. This is the day that Croyden's baby is to be christened. As the guests are gathered for the christening and Croyden is preparing to leave his office, he sees a copy of the newspaper hinting that the child's father is not Croyden but the man who Beatrice has been seen with so much of late. Overcome, Croyden drinks heavily and returns when the christening is in progress, quite intoxicated. He breaks in upon the affair, denouncing Beatrice and forbidding her to name the child after him and accuses Nevill of being the father of the child. This Nevill refuses to deny. Locking himself in his room, Croyden refuses to see Beatrice or let her explain. Beatrice, in terror over her husband's action, and realizing that Nevill alone can clear her name, decides to make him right her. She arrives at Nevill's and is admitted to see him alone. Nevill believes that he has won and tells her that he will give her a letter clearing her name, but that she must pay the price. He writes the note and then locks the door and confronts her. In the meantime Croyden has learned where she has gone, and follows. Beatrice struggles with Nevill to preserve her honor, and finally, in desperation, catches up a sharp paper cutter and stabs him, dropping the weapon to the floor. Croyden enters, accompanied by Mrs. Nevill, and finds Nevill dying. Realizing that he is on the verge of death, the good in Nevill comes to the surface. He picks up the knife and tells them that for love of Beatrice, and because she has repulsed him he has attempted suicide. He takes the note clearing Beatrice's name from his pocket and gives it to Croyden. Croyden realizes that this will clear him in the eye of the people. He begs forgiveness of Beatrice and as she grants him this, they glance down at Nevill, who falls back dead.

The Idler Synopsis

"The Idler" is Mark Cross, a young man of good family, who in a wild fit of daredeviltry has emigrated from London to the far west. John Harding, also well-born of wealthy parents, but disinherited, and a poor clerk, is also seeking his fortune in the gold fields. One day Harding receives a letter from a firm of London solicitors informing him that his father has died and that he is now Sir John Harding, Bart. He sets out at once to make his preparations for his return to civilization and to take up the station in life that is rightfully his. But that very day he becomes involved in a quarrel with Felix Strong, the young brother of a miner named Simeon Strong, and Felix is shot accidentally during the dispute. Harding is accused of murder, but flees to England in time to escape the vengeance of a posse, headed by Simeon Strong, who is determined to avenge his brother. Years after in London, Harding, who has married the girl both he and Cross were in love with before they emigrated, comes face to face with Cross and Strong, who have become partners and have "struck it rich." In order to win Lady Harding for his own Cross allows the evil side of his nature to get the upper hand of him and plots to have Strong kill Sir John in a duel. Strong slaps Harding in the face in the foyer of the opera house in order that he may involve him in "an affair of honor" and avenge his brother's death by killing Harding. Cross in the meantime lures Lady Harding to his rooms where Sir John comes to seek her. She hides in Mark Cross's bedroom, but reveals herself at a dramatic moment when Harding, shouting "Curse you, I'll kill you," springs at Cross's throat. Her splendid nature, as shown in her denunciation of both men, one as a husband without faith in his wife and the other as the would-be destroyer of a home, overcomes them with shame. They shake hands and Mark, parting forever with Lady Harding, orders his valet to pack his things for he is off "on a long trail."