The story follows the life of a young man named Markham, who is forced to flee his home after being falsely accused of a crime he did not commit. He is pursued by a relentless detective, who is determined to bring him to justice. Markham is eventually forced to take refuge in a small village, where he meets a kindly old man who takes him in and helps him to hide from his pursuer. The old man, however, is not what he seems, and soon Markham finds himself in a desperate situation. The story follows Markham as he struggles to survive and evade capture, while also trying to prove his innocence. In the end, he is able to do both, and the story ends with a happy ending.
By Charles Dickens · First published 1870 · Genre: Mystery, Gothic Fiction, Romance · 5 chapters