In which Helen Rolleston, with a tender yet resolute spirit, navigates a labyrinth of social obstacles and legal formalities to inquire into the troubling case of Robert Penfold, encountering cold refusals and unexpected kindnesses that test her fortitude and resolve. Her investigations, shadowed by mysterious watchers and the poignant affections of those around her, lead her to discover the first faint glimmers of doubt amidst the overwhelming tide of condemnation.