AustLit

The story concerns a banker, Caradoc, and his wife Alice, who both live and gamble extravagantly. Complications arise when Alice's first husband, Marsden, who was long ago presumed dead, turns up and cheats Caradoc (he is unrecognised by Alice). As a result Caradoc is forced to close down his bank he is imprisoned for four years. During this time his sister, Kate, marries a new chum named Wyndham. Upon his release Caradoc meets up with Marsden and is informed that Alice is actually still married to him. In a fit of rage Caradoc throws him out a window and is subsequently sent back to gaol. With Caradoc out of the way Marsden forces Alice to accompany him to the gold diggings, where they meet up with two low-life characters named Sogg (unemployed) and Stoyles (a bookie). Caradoc later arrives at the diggings and comes into possession of a giant nugget, which Marsden resolves to steal. Caradoc meets with Alice to tell her she is now once again rich, but after they part Marsden attacks her, striking her so violently on head that she appears to be dead. Although Wyndham and Stoyles accuse Marsden of the crime, Marsden and Sogg succeed in getting Caradoc charged with murder. However, when Alice recovers she is able to tell the true story. Angered by the deception and villainy the miners lynch Marsden and Sogg.