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The Living Link: A NovelJames De Mille

The Living Link: A Novel

by OpenStories

Original author: James De Mille

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"The Living Link: A Novel" by James De Mille is a work of fiction set in the mid-19th century. The story revolves around Edith Dalton, a young woman who navigates the complexities of her life after receiving shocking news about her father, leading to revelations of dark family secrets and her quest for truth. The narrative unfolds in Plympton Terrace, a fashionable boarding school, and transitions to Dalton Hall, where Edith grapples with grief and confrontations with her father's past. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to Edith and her friends, who are suddenly hushed by the arrival of disturbing news about her estranged father. Following a tense but emotional conversation with her aunt Miss Plympton, Edith learns of her father's death, which reignites her longing to connect with him and understand her family’s hidden truths. As details emerge, they hint at a past filled with betrayal and accusation, particularly surrounding a figure named John Wiggins, who now manages her family estate. The opening portion establishes a tense atmosphere and a strong sense of personal conflict as Edith prepares to reclaim her rightful place, driven by a desire to confront Wiggins and uncover the truth about her father's legacy.

The Living Link: A Novel, by James De Mille. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #8711.

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55 Chapters

  1. 1.Chapter I: A Terrible Secret3,368 words
  2. 2.Chapter II: The Contents of the Manuscript2,770 words
  3. 3.Chapter III: The Momentous Resolve2,763 words
  4. 4.Chapter IV: The Welcome Home3,119 words
  5. 5.Chapter V: The Strange Inmates of Dalton Hall3,588 words
  6. 6.Chapter VI: Walled in2,399 words
  7. 7.Chapter VII: A Parley with the Jailers3,254 words
  8. 8.Chapter VIII: Miss Plympton Baffled1,954 words
  9. 9.Chapter IX: Sir Lionel Dudleigh2,122 words
  10. 10.Chapter X: Leon1,786 words
  11. 11.Chapter XI: Lucy1,858 words
  12. 12.Chapter XII: A Solemn Appeal2,912 words
  13. 13.Chapter XIII: A Wonderful Actor2,725 words
  14. 14.Chapter XIV: Two Callers3,069 words
  15. 15.Chapter XV: A Panic Among the Jailers1,818 words
  16. 16.Chapter XVI: Another Visit2,154 words
  17. 17.Chapter XVII: A Stroke for Liberty3,295 words
  18. 18.Chapter XVIII: A Strange Confession2,421 words
  19. 19.Chapter XIX: A New-Comer3,285 words
  20. 20.Chapter XX: Faithful Unto Death2,433 words
  21. 21.Chapter XXI: A Warning2,089 words
  22. 22.Chapter XXII: Little Dudleigh2,035 words
  23. 23.Chapter XXIII: The Man of Law3,019 words
  24. 24.Chapter XXIV: New Obligations1,087 words
  25. 25.Chapter XXV: The Sources of the Nile1,914 words
  26. 26.Chapter XXVI: A Threatening Letter1,179 words
  27. 27.Chapter XXVII: The Proposal2,407 words
  28. 28.Chapter XXVIII: A Marriage in the Dark3,315 words
  1. 29.Chapter XXIX: The Wife of Leon Dudleigh2,177 words
  2. 30.Chapter XXX: Jailer and Captive1,890 words
  3. 31.Chapter XXXI: The Irrepressible Struggle1,331 words
  4. 32.Chapter XXXII: A Fight in the Enemy's Camp2,147 words
  5. 33.Chapter XXXIII: The Husband's Last Appeal2,086 words
  6. 34.Chapter XXXIV: The Fugitive and the Pursuer2,330 words
  7. 35.Chapter XXXV: The Empty Rooms1,789 words
  8. 36.Chapter XXXVI: The Vicar of Dalton1,773 words
  9. 37.Chapter XXXVII: The House of Refuge2,082 words
  10. 38.Chapter XXXVIII: The Old Well2,050 words
  11. 39.Chapter XXXIX: The Coroner's Inquest1,122 words
  12. 40.Chapter XL: A Strange Confession3,740 words
  13. 41.Chapter XLI: A Revelation3,097 words
  14. 42.Chapter XLII: The Trial3,134 words
  15. 43.Chapter XLIII: Sir Lionel and His “keeper”2,108 words
  16. 44.Chapter XLIV: Lady Dudleigh's Decision1,791 words
  17. 45.Chapter XLV: Lady Dudleigh Is Shown to Her Room3,080 words
  18. 46.Chapter XLVI: The Bedside of Dalton1,954 words
  19. 47.Chapter XLVII: A Better Understanding2,026 words
  20. 48.Chapter XLVIII: Captain Cruikshank1,472 words
  21. 49.Chapter XLIX: Edith's New Friend2,854 words
  22. 50.Chapter L: A Terrible Adventure2,654 words
  23. 51.Chapter LI: Important News2,092 words
  24. 52.Chapter LII: The Story of Frederick Dalton5,575 words
  25. 53.Chapter LIII: The Brothers3,229 words
  26. 54.Chapter LIV: The Sons and Their Father2,953 words
  27. 55.Conclusion1,471 words