AustLit

The narrator tells of his shipwreck and the subsequent discovery of an uncharted island where he encounters a mysterious woman who tells how she came to be there.

Constanides, the protagonist, hypnotises Cecilia who, through a flashback narrative, recalls how she saved the professor's soul.

A farmer's daughter has to keep her liaison with a squire secret as her father doesn't approve of him. Everything changes when the secret lover helps the farmer out of a predicament.

A young man on his way to South America encounters a beautiful woman who persuades him to deliver some important papers. He accomplishes this task in a unique way.

A mischevious boy, always in trouble, sets out to capture an escaped convict to please his father who is the local police inspector.

A successful farmer buys an isolated estate in Devon and encounters a myterious woman dressed in black whose story is revealed.

A farm manager hires an itinerant man who proves to be worth his weight in gold . He also harbours a surprising secret.

Introduction: The story of John Alexander Malabone-Beverley, or Bones, a no-hoper boy possessing neither brains or brawn, who is constantly bullied. His ascension to popularity is poignant and surprising.

Chapter One: As an adult Bones is treated perfunctorily, just as his father had been, while his brothers and sisters are respected and admired. His father would like him to enter the clergy, but Bones wants to join the army.

Chapter Two: Bones is posted to Allahabad in India. He is no good at polo, tennis or cricket but becomes the regiment boxing champion. One night, whilst playing cards, he is accused of cheating and resigns his commission.

Chapter Three: Bones is now in Australia and a Union representative. He is trying to placate angry shearers and does so through a thoughtful, insightful speech.

Chapter Four: Now a politician, Bones is in love with a farmer's daughter. Just before the election he tells her that he loves her and they become engaged. However, he has misgivings because he has not told anyone about his previous life.

Chapter Five: Bones is re-elected but is unhappy and afraid his past will return to haunt him. He is thrown from his horse and breaks his back. Lying on his death bed he is visited by someone from his past.

Three travellers encounter a strange man at an abandoned gold mine and can't make up their minds whether what they experience is real or not.

A young doctor asks a lawyer for his daughter's hand in marriage. He is refused as the father hopes to profit from her marriage. Consequently they are banned from seeing each other and the daughter is kept a virtual prisoner by her father. Subsequntly, she is betrothed to Squire Devereaux, an older man, purely for fiscal purposes. The end to this short story holds many surprises.

A no-hoper who is a thief and liar sacrifices his life to save another but is villified even in death.