Vera, the Medium

"Vera, the Medium" by Richard Harding Davis is a tale from the late 1800s that centers on Stephen Hallowell, a rich old man near the end of his life, whose final days are thrown into chaos by whispers of how much money he has, strange spiritualists, and schemes involving his will. Through characters like Hallowell, his lawyer Judge Gaylor, and Vera, the mysterious medium, the book asks questions about power, trickery, and the conflict between wealthy old families and the rising popularity of spiritualism. The book begins with a dramatic scene, showing Hallowell dealing with his failing health while the media and his family create tension around him. As young reporters guess about Hallowell's health and how he will use his wealth, Vera, a medium who claims she can talk to the dead, enters the picture. The story then shows a battle for control between Hallowell's niece, who wants her inheritance, and those who want to control him using spiritualism, pulling readers into a world of mystery and tension as the characters gather around Hallowell, each with their own reasons, creating the perfect setup for a captivating story.