The Brand of Cain

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Each month upon receipt of his remittance from England George Wade plunges into reckless dissipation in a mining camp. Gordon Lennox, another Englishman, leaves his wife in England while he seeks his fortune in the gold fields of Nevada. Lennox saves Wade from violence in a saloon brawl, and partly through the ties of English blood and sympathy for the man, he takes Wade to his cabin, and together they work Lennox's claim. Lennox hears from his wife, Edith, who writes him that she is about to leave England and join him. Wade strikes a rich vein of ore; the news spreads, and word comes from several eastern capitalists that they will arrive to investigate the new discovery. Lennox gives Wade full power of attorney to deal with the capitalists, who would buy the mine, and then leaves to meet his wife. Wade endeavors to embezzle $200,000, the amount he received for the mine, and his crookedness is discovered by his partner, who returns unannounced. After a violent quarrel, Wade kills Lennox, and leaves for the east. He meets Lennox's wife and tells her her husband was killed in an accident. They embark for England. Wade becomes conscience-stricken. He fears that circumstances will make known the fact that be is a murderer. He cannot forget the brand of Cain, and a swift and unusual punishment comes to him.