[Gutenberg 57758] • Bess of the Woods

Set in the 1700's. After the death of his father, wealthy Richard Jaffrey returns from exploring life in Italy to be the new master of his father's large estate. He is too kind-hearted for such a responsibility and easily taken advantage of by those looking to share in his wealth, including his aged Aunt and a older spinster who is eager to marry him for his money. He unwittingly becomes engaged to the older woman but then unexpectedly meets a much younger and far more dynamic and mysterious woman that lives with her rather wild family in the woods nearby the estate. He has to decide his path and a smallpox epidemic adds to the excitement.