In the days when there were not many people in Fentown Falls, and when much money was made by the lumber trade, Bartholomew Toyner's father grew rich.

He was a Scotchman, not without some education, and was ambitious for his son; but he was a hard, ill-tempered man, and consequently neither his example nor his precepts carried any weight whatever with the son when he was grown.

The mother, who had begun life cheerfully and sensibly, showed the weakness of her character in that she became habitually peevish.

She had enough to make her so.

All her pleasure in life was centred in her son Bart.