The Country Parson

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Veronique Sauviat meets Jean Tascheron, a young man from the next village, and falls in love with him. Her father, a dealer in antiques, has secretly amassed a great fortune, and proposes to give Veronique a fabulous dowry if Graslin, the richest man in the province, will marry her. Forced into a loveless marriage, she becomes dispirited, and only occasionally does she resent her husband's meanness. Jean has left home in search of employment, the good father giving him a letter of introduction to Sauviat, who, impoverished by the payment of Veronique's huge dowry, is now manager of Graslin's jet factory. Sauviat is stricken while at work, and Jean assists him home. There he encounters his lost Veronique, whom her husband's cruelty has driven to her father's house. The old love affair is rekindled. Jean discovers the hiding place of an old miser's wealth, and resolves to steal it so that he may take Veronique away. She aids him. The miser interrupts them at work, and Jean is forced to seal his lips forever. Jean stamps out Veronique's footprints, but leaves a clear impression of his own shoes in the damp soil. He is trailed and arrested, the money being found under his pillow. Offered clemency if he will reveal his companion's identity, he chooses death. On the day of the execution Veronique's baby is born. Graslin, delighted, would embrace her, but she waves him away with a shriek, for Jean is even now dying on the guillotine.