Summary
The narrative unfurls within a quaint New England hamlet, introducing Josiah Pringle, a venerable musician whose two decades of dedicated service as the church organist are abruptly curtailed. A younger, more contemporary talent, Gordon Howard, arrives from Boston, displacing Pringle and subsequently drawing away his burgeoning music students. Yet, Pringle, a man imbued with an almost saintly benevolence, harbors no ill will, even extending sincere commendation for Howard's undeniable skill. His adopted daughter, Faith, the spirited leader of the church choir, initially rebels against this perceived injustice, refusing to lend her voice, but ultimately yields to Josiah's gentle counsel. A dramatic turn of events sees Howard courageously intervene when Faith is accosted by a local ruffian, cementing a bond of gratitude that leads him into the Pringle household, where he encounters Josiah's life's work: an intricate model for an improved organ. Howard's astute observation swiftly resolves a technical conundrum that had vexed the elder musician for a decade. However, the shadow of the aforementioned ruffian looms once more, attempting to sow discord by revealing a newspaper clipping implicating a man strikingly similar to Howard in an embezzlement scandal. Pringle, ever the paragon of compassion, dismisses the insinuation with a profound statement of forgiveness, choosing not to be an instrument of further persecution should Howard indeed be a reformed soul. Entrusting his groundbreaking invention to Howard for patenting, Pringle awaits the promised royalties, a substantial sum of $20,000. But silence follows, and as their meager savings dwindle, the Pringles face the heartbreaking prospect of returning Faith to the orphanage. Just as despair threatens to consume them, Howard reappears, his absence explained by a construction accident, subsequent amnesia, and a painstaking recovery of memory. He clarifies the embezzlement link, revealing the man in the paper to be his now-deceased brother. With his name cleared and the funds secured, Howard orchestrates Pringle's reinstatement as organist, and the quiet affection between Faith and Howard blossoms into a tender romance, orchestrating a harmonious resolution to their trials.
Synopsis
Josiah Pringle, a benevolent old musician, who ekes out his livelihood by giving music lessons, after playing the organ for twenty years in the church of a little New England hamlet, must make way for a younger man, Gordon Howard, who comes from Boston. Faith Pringle, adopted by Josiah and his aged sister, Letitia, is leader of the choir, and when Pringle is replaced, she refuses to sing, but relents at Pringle's gentle insistence. When the new organist appears, Pringle's pupils leave him for the younger man, but he feels no resentment against Howard and compliments him on his playing. A young ruffian attacks Faith, but Howard rescues her and Pringle, deeply appreciative, invites Howard to the house. For many years Pringle has been working upon an improvement in organs. He shows the model to Howard who discovers a point that has baffled the old musician for ten years. The young ruffian, seeking a way to revenge himself on Howard through Pringle, shows Pringle a newspaper bearing the picture of a young man, resembling Howard closely, sought as an embezzler, but Pringle, in his kindly way, says that if Howard has reformed, he will not be the first to persecute him. Pringle places his model in the hands of Howard, to obtain a patent. Howard writes that he has secured an advance of $20,000 royalties and they hear nothing further from him. As the weeks drag by and Pringle's small store of money is exhausted, he and his sister are forced to the decision that Faith must be returned to the orphanage whence she came. The day of her departure comes all too soon. At the last moment, Howard comes in and explains that after receiving the money he placed it in a safe for the time being. In passing a building in the course of construction, he was injured. At the hospital to which he was taken, no means of identification were found on him, and just as soon as he recovered his memory he returned to the Pringles. The cloud on his antecedents is cleared when he looks at the newspaper pictures and says "My brother, the poor fellow is dead now." Through Howard's influence, Pringle is reinstated as organist and the friendship between Faith and Howard quickly ripens into love.
