Humphrey Scriven is a good and prosperous merchant, happily married and the father of three daughters and a son. But Humphrey's life is soon turned upside down when his beloved wife dies and his son Humphrey Jr. proves to be a disappointment. Humphrey Jr. takes over the family business when his father dies but is swindled out of his inheritance by his trusted clerk, Mr. Hayley. Hayley's son pays dearly for his father's crime, and Humphrey Jr.'s daughters each face their own challenges in life and love. Humphrey Scriven is a complex and compelling character, and his story is a powerful exploration of the themes of love, loss, and redemption.