Guy Mannering is present at the birth of Harry Bertram, the heir to the Bertram estate. Meg Merriles, queen of the gypsies, living on the Bertram estate, is also present, and by consulting with the stars they cast the young heir's ...See moreGuy Mannering is present at the birth of Harry Bertram, the heir to the Bertram estate. Meg Merriles, queen of the gypsies, living on the Bertram estate, is also present, and by consulting with the stars they cast the young heir's horoscope. This shows he will have much trouble and misfortune during his life, holding forth until he reaches his twenty-first birthday. Several years pass. The older Bertram is made justice of the peace. With this new authority he at once lakes action against the gypsies who have lived for centuries on his estate. Meg Merriles, who has long been a friend of the house of Eliangowan, takes this as a personal insult and calls down the purse of her race upon the home of Bertram. In taking action against the smugglers who infest the coast, Bertram employs inspector Kennedy to rout them. Young Harry, now five years old, and his tutor, are walking about the shore. They pass Kennedy who places the child on his horse. The smugglers in the meantime recognize Kennedy as their enemy. They attack him and throw him over the cliff. The boy being a witness to this is taken away to their cave. Meg, who has seen this, begs for the boy's release, but Lawyer Glossin, a silent friend of the smugglers, prevails upon them to kidnap the boy, for without an heir the house of Bertram, by his clever manipulation, will easily pass into his hands. Sixteen years later, young Bertram, now known as Brown, becomes an officer in Col. Mannering's regiment in India. He is very much in love with Mannering's daughter, Julia, whose mother, fearing the colonel's anger, encourages the young lovers in their secret meetings. This is misinterpreted by the colonel, who thinks that Brown is paying attention to his wife. This situation leads to a duel in which Bertram is shot and supposed by Mannering to be dead. In reality he is taken prisoner by the Sepoys and held captive till he manages to escape. Learning that the colonel has returned to England, he follows, and finds him living in Scotland, a widower, with his daughter, near the Bertram estate. He sees his sweetheart again. Old Meg recognizes him as the heir and the smugglers also recognize him, and inform Glossin, who, upon the death of the young man's father, acquires the estate at very small cost, leaving Miss Bertram, the daughter of his old master, penniless. Glossin at once takes action with the smugglers, who, to protect himself from the charge of the murder of Kennedy, is a willing tool of Glossin, and agrees to get them young man out of the way. This plot fortunately is overheard by one of Meg's trusty men, who immediately informs her. Realizing that she owes many a favor to the house of Ellangowan, she sends word to the colonel that if he would like to see that the heir to the house of Bertram is still alive, to come at once to the smugglers' cave with help. She tells Bertram who he is and bids him be at the smugglers' cave that she may prove what she says. She leads him into the cave. Here she confronts Glossin and Hatterick and promises that her prophecy shall be fulfilled. A struggle ensues, which by the timely arrival of Col. Mannering and his help, terminates in the capture of Glossin and Hatterick. Meg has been shot during the affray, and with her dying breath announces to all that Bertram is the long-lost heir to the house of Ellangowan. The colonel recognizes in young Bertram, Brown. His daughter Julia arrives and the lover-like attitude of the young couple explains to him the error, and he consents to their speedy marriage. Bertram meets for the first time his sister Lucy, in whom Col. Mannering has shown an interest more than brotherly. They all repair to the castle where Bertram is formally proclaimed its master. Written by
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