McNish was in the grip of one of the mightiest of human passions.

Since that day in the Perrotte home, when he had seen the girl that he loved practically offer herself, as he thought, to another man, he had resolutely kept himself away from her.

He had done with her forever and he had torn out of his heart the genuine friendship which he had begun to hold toward the man who had deprived him of her love.

But deep in his heart he nourished a passion for vengeance that became an obsession, a madness with him.

He merely waited the opportunity to gratify his passion.
He learned that the Maitland Mills were in deep water, financially.