The Light that Lies

"The Light that Lies" by George Barr McCutcheon is an early 20th-century novel centered on Sampson, a prosperous man who has always avoided jury duty. Fate intervenes, compelling him to serve on a jury for a prominent embezzlement trial involving James W. Hildebrand, an older man accused of stealing funds from his former company. Initially viewing his civic duty as a nuisance, Sampson becomes drawn into the complexities of the case. The novel portrays the courtroom drama, introduces characters like Hildebrand and his granddaughter, Alexandra, and shows Sampson struggling with his prejudices and burgeoning feelings for Alexandra as he weighs the evidence, ultimately forcing him to face the moral challenges of the legal system and his own heart.