Oliver Conrad returns from school to find his proud independence tested at every turn. When his wealthy stepbrother Roland orders him about like a servant, the quarrel explodes into open violence, exposing not only sibling rivalry but a deeper struggle over class, control, and the shadowy injustice surrounding Oliver's late mother's inheritance. The gardener, John Bradford, confirms Oliver's suspicions that something is wrong, while Mr. Kenyon's cold favoritism and brutal demand that Roland punish Oliver reveal the household's corruption. Forced out of that hostile home, Oliver finds warmth and friendship with the Dudleys, especially Frank and Carrie, whose lively kindness stands in stark contrast to the Kenyons' cruelty. But danger follows him: Dr. Fox confronts Mr. Kenyon with a devastating secret about his hidden wife, stolen fortune, and false identity, while Oliver, now struggling alone in New York, faces hunger, humiliation, and the near impossibility of honest work. A strange dinner invitation from a wealthy doctor turns into a terrifying attempt on Oliver's life, until a son's intervention exposes the man's madness. Even a sudden windfall cannot erase the sense that Oliver is surrounded by deceit, jealousy, and threats, as Roland soon reappears to mock him and stir old accusations. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.