AustLit

The plot involves the seduction of an innocent clergyman by a woman who has already murdered her first husband.

'Lucas List [...] is a Iothario of means, who seeks to cast off one victim, Ruth Wright [...], and to get into his possession her cousin, Ruby Wright [...], a school teacher, engaged to be married to Robert Ray, a mate in the merchant service [...]. Hay is made to suspect his sweetheart, and while under the influence of drink he is persuaded into marrying Ruth Wright. The latter refuses to terminate her relations with Lucas List. Ruby Wright visits List's house at night to get her cousin away, and being found there by Robert Ray, saves her cousin at the sacrifice of her own reputation. Dismissed from her post of school teacher, Ruby is sheltered by Madame de Meral [..], an agent of List, and taken to London. A timely escape is made from de Meral s house, with the help of a crippled boy, and safety is found in a London cellar. Here the pair, in the last stage of exhaustion from starvation, are found by List. Io save the cripple's life Ruby consents to go with List to his hotel, where Ruth armed with a knife has secreted herself. A quarrel follows, and List is fatally stabbed. Ruby believes herself to be the murderess, and is arrested but a dying confession by Ruth saves her and in the end Ruby and Robert Ray are happily married.'

Source:

'Driving a Girl to Destruction', The Sydney Morning Herald, 19 June 1911, p.5.