The Seventh Man

The Seventh Man by Max Brand (1930)

The narrative follows Vic Gregg, a solitary miner in the mountains, who is driven by his desire to marry Betty Neal but struggles with loneliness and the harsh realities of life. He works tirelessly to secure a stake in mining, but his isolation begins to take a toll on his mental state. As spring approaches, he decides to visit Alder, where Betty lives, but his journey is fraught with internal conflict and the weight of his solitude. Upon reaching Alder, Vic finds himself caught in a tumultuous relationship with Betty, who is torn between her feelings for him and her interactions with Blondy Hansen, a rival suitor. Their relationship deteriorates into jealousy and misunderstandings, leading to a confrontation that culminates in Vic's impulsive decision to leave town. In a moment of desperation, he becomes embroiled in a violent altercation with Blondy, resulting in Blondy's death. As Vic grapples with the consequences of his actions, he learns that he is being pursued by the law, specifically Sheriff Pete Glass and a posse. In a twist of fate, he encounters Dan Barry, a legendary figure known for his prowess and wild nature. Dan saves Vic from the posse, but the two men find themselves on opposite sides of a moral conflict. Dan's wildness and the loyalty of his wolf-dog, Black Bart, create a tension that Vic struggles to navigate. The story explores themes of loyalty, the consequences of violence, and the complexities of human relationships. As Vic attempts to reconcile his past actions and the impact they have on those around him, he is faced with the reality of his choices and the potential for redemption. The narrative builds towards a climax where Vic must confront not only the law but also his own sense of identity and morality in the face of the wildness embodied by Dan Barry. Ultimately, the tale is a reflection on the struggle between civilization and the untamed spirit, as well as the personal battles that define one's character.

By Max Brand · First published 1930 · Genre: Western, Adventure, Drama · 41 chapters · 92,100 words

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A man under thirty needs neighbors and to stop up the current of his life with a long silence is like obstructing a river -- eventually the water either sweeps away the dam or rises over it, and the stronger the dam the more destructive is that final rush to freedom. Vic Gregg was on the danger side of thirty and he lived alone in the mountains all that winter. He wanted to marry Betty Neal, but marriage means money, therefore Vic contracted fifteen hundred dollars' worth of mining for the Duncans, and instead of taking a partner he went after that stake single handed. He is a very rare man who can turn out that amount of labor in a single season, but Gregg furnished that exception which establishes the rule: he did the assessment work on fourteen claims and almost finished the fifteenth, yet he paid the price. Week after week his set of drills was wife and child to him, and for conversation he had only the clangor of the four-pound single-jack on the drill heads, with the crashing of the "shots" now and then as periods to the chatter of iron on iron. He kept at it, and in the end he almost finished the allotted work, but for all of it he paid in full.

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The Seventh Man is listed on Textopian as a novel by Max Brand, dated 1930 CE.

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Western Fiction · Adventure Novel · Classic Literature · American West · Outlaw Story · Gunslinger · Cattle Ranching · Rodeo · Cowboy Culture · Frontier Life · Law and Order · Justice System

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More by Max Brand