This novel is about numerous members of the Kent household but primarily the sons of Jephtha Kent who has died. The most lawless of the clan seems to be Jeremiah Kent. He is the former soldier and buffalo hunter who becomes a gun toting outlaw in the untamed west. He lives in a lawless society. He is a fugitive from justice and a gambler. His siblings feel he is dead.

Louis Kent has also died and his widow, Julia has turn into an activist for women’s suffrage rights. She goes on speaking tours throughout the west and she grow to be quite good at it. Gideon Kent met her at the funeral of her husband. They hit it off and soon there was a new romance in development. Gideon’s wife, Margaret who had been going down hill mentally for many years now, turns Gideon out at this point.

Margaret Kent does not have much to do with her youngsters. She stays in her bedroom most days and has a drinking problem. Their daughter Eleanor looks out for herself and her brother. They don’t see considerably of the father either. This appears strange that Gideon and his young children are not close. He spends more and much more time with Julia Sedgwick. They are in Chicago during the Fantastic Chicago Fire and their affair begins to heat up too. He is involved with his union activities and Julia with suffrage so they also have a lot in typical. Gideon hasn’t had a lot to do with his wife since she got sick. He goes overboard with his labor actions and sets his websites on the observation of the private life of a railroad tycoon by the name of Courtleigh. Gideon even goes to his residence where he and his wife are hosting a party for friends. He causes a scene there and is then thrown out.

Matthew Kent lives in Paris exactly where he is an artist in the Parisian bohemian culture. He rubs elbows with some of the crucial artists and authors of the day. He has a wife named Dolly who mysteriously has just left him for no apparent reason. Gideon had talked his brother into coming home to the United States to support him with a project. It did not final too extended as Matthew was missing his fun life back in France. Eleanor constantly liked her uncle and he would spend some quality time with her, his niece. She was constantly interested in understanding about his pals who had been in the arts simply because she was very interested in the theater for her future involvement.

Though Eleanor has a lot of tension about her mom and dad, she had a secret desire to enter the theater to become a performer. She had joined a group of amateur player’s downtown practically every single week. She and a friend met there at a neighborhood playhouse and she believes she has some talent. At least, that is what she has been told. She goes secretly with her friend and does not dare tell her parent about it, particularly her mother. She knew her mother would be furious. Eleanor is growing up to be a good person with not much assist from her family members.

Gideon Kent’s life takes up most of this novel. His wife’s mental condition and his affair with Julia take up the bulk of the story. His labor activities do add color to the story line. Eleanor shows us that there is some hope for this family members. She is a budding actress with a future to appear forward to.