The Best Laid Plans

The setting is around Devonshire and southern England. The victim/hero of our story, Winston Colworth, a Lt. in a Infantry Regiment stationed far to the south is home on a short leave to visit his family and his love Melissa Tattington, who has been away from her home, "Tyringhan Park" since her mother died five years ago. Melissa's father, Squire Tattington, has fought with Winston's father and considers that Winston is not a good match for his daughter. Winston's, albeit unknown rival for Melissa's hand is Bernard Conroy (an apprentice solicitor), who is consumed with neurotic even insane covetousness over Melissa's preference for Winston and plans to remove Winston from the scene by killing him. Unfortunately, Bernard accidentally kills the wrong man, and Winston due to and off hand remark is charged with the murder, convicted, and sentenced to death. Bernard, meanwhile, tries to right the terrible wrong without implicating himself as the real assassin - though he considers that he may have to confess in order to save Winston's life.