The cloven foot

"The Cloven Foot" by M. E. Braddon is a novel published in 1879. When John Treverton inherits his uncle's estate with one condition—he must marry the adopted daughter Laura within a year—he accepts, despite harboring a dark secret. Unknown to his new bride, John already lived another life in London as Jack Chicot, married to a French dancer. When La Chicot is murdered, John faces accusations of killing his first wife to secure his inheritance, threatening both his freedom and his future.

The cloven foot, by M. E. Braddon. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #73931.