The murder of Charles Hilary's worthless wife, Louise, leaves him vulnerable to the conviction which follows, and his love affair with Kathryn lends a damaging inflection to the circumstantial evidence against him. Scheduled to hang, a prison fire enables him to escape- with Kathryn- to some desolate saltings; they attempt to cross the Channel- but their boat capsizes and Charles is recaptured; and it is Kathryn who is able to bring in a last minute reversal and stay of execution. Enterprising and exciting.