简介：Havingjustreachedadulthood,ClydeGriffithshasalwayslamentedhislotinlifeastheonlysonofpoormissionaries.Hehasgottenaperipheralviewofsocietylife,towhichheaspires,inhisworkasabellhopatanupscalehotel.Ifbeingtruthfultohimself,hewouldadmitthathelacksmoralstrength,oftentakingtheeasiestbutperhapsnotthemostethicalpathtoprotecthimself.Forcedtomovefromplacetoplaceoutofcircumstance,heendsupinLycurgus,NewYorkworkingattheSamuelGriffithsCollarandShirtfactory,SamuelGriffithsbeinghispaternaluncle.Notknowinghisuncleorhisfamily,Clydeonlywantsachancetogetahead,notexpectinganythingelsefromhiswealthyrelations.Afteranapprenticeship,Clydeendsupastheforemaninthestampingdepartment.Despiteacompanyruleforbiddingforementofraternizewithstaff,especiallythoseworkinginthesamedepartment,Clydebeginsanaffair,aclandestineoneoutofnecessity,withRobertaAlden,whoworksinthestampingdepartmentunderhim.Theirloveisanobsessiveone,madeallthemorepowerfulbyitsclandestinenature.ThatchangesforClydewhenhemeets,throughhiswealthyrelations,societybelleSondraFinchley;thetwoimmediatelyfallinlovewitheachother.TheextradrawofSondraoverBertisSondra'sstandinginsociety--butthenBertinformshimthatshe'spregnantbyhimandpressureshimtomarryher.WantingtobewithSondrainstead,ClydecontemplatesmurderingBertbydrowningherinalake,knowingshedoesn'tknowhowtoswim.AlthoughClydeisultimatelyunabletocommitthisactofmurderandwilldorightinmarryingBert,hislackofmoralstrengthresultsinatragicsituation.…