Summary
In a narrative steeped in the intricate dance of societal mores and personal vendettas, Strathmore, a man whose disdain for women is a defining characteristic, finds his rigid worldview challenged. Initially, he castigates his confidant, Bertie Errol, for trifling with Lucille, an unassuming farm girl. Yet, the currents of fate swiftly shift as Strathmore himself succumbs to the enigmatic allure of 'Lady' Vavasour. Errol, however, reveals a darker truth, exposing Vavasour's manipulative nature and questioning her marital legitimacy, a revelation fueled by his own past entanglement with her. This clash of perceptions escalates into a fatal duel, claiming Errol's life. A posthumous letter from Errol unveils a concealed truth: Lucille, far from being a mere farm girl, is the daughter of exiled Russian nobility and, more profoundly, his secret wife, a union kept clandestine to safeguard his familial standing. The tragic news of Errol's demise proves too much for Lucille, who succumbs to shock, leaving behind their infant daughter, also named Lucille. Strathmore, now burdened by immense guilt and a fierce sense of justice, adopts the orphaned child and embarks on a relentless campaign to ostracize and expose 'Lady' Vavasour, holding her directly accountable for the precipitous downfall and death of his friend. As the years unfold, the younger Lucille blossoms into a woman of radiant beauty. When the Comte de Valdor seeks her hand, she spurns his advances, confessing a profound, unconventional love for her adoptive father. Strathmore, grappling with the moral complexities of having inadvertently caused her biological father's death, initially recoils from this revelation. Nevertheless, the profound bond they share ultimately prevails, culminating in their marriage. In a poignant twist, 'Lady' Vavasour, witnessing the genuine happiness of the newlywed couple, chooses to withhold the devastating secret of Lucille's father's true end, allowing their joy to remain untainted by the shadows of the past.
Synopsis
Strathmore, a woman hater, falls in love with "Lady" Vavasour after having reproached his friend, Bertie Errol, for his attentions to Lucille, the little farm girl. Errol, too, has trifled with the Vavasour woman and warns Strathmore that she is thoroughly bad and not really Vavasour's wife at all. They quarrel and fight a duel in which Erroll is killed. He has left a letter to Strathmore, explaining that Lucille, the daughter of exiled but noble Russians, is really his wife though he has kept the marriage secret for fear of offending his family and wealthy uncle. When the news of Errol's death is brought to her, Mrs. Errol dies of shock and Strathmore adopts and rears the daughter of this match who has been named Lucille for her mother. Lord Strathmore drives "Lady" Vavasour from society and completely exposes her, for he holds her responsible for the trouble between himself and Errol. As the years pass, Lucille grows into a beautiful girl, and when the Comte de Valdor proposes for her hand she refuses him, revealing that she loves Strathmore. Because he has killed her father, he hesitates, but in the end he marries her. "Lady" Vavasour, affected by the girl's happiness, foregoes exposing the truth of her father's death.
