The Village Convict First published in the "Century Magazine"

"The Village Convict" by Heman White Chaplin is a story set in a late 1800s small fishing village where Ephraim Morse, a young man, returns home after being in prison, and it follows his struggles to fit back into the community after committing arson due to family struggles. This story looks at the idea of redemption. While some villagers, like Dr. Burt and his wife, support Eph and he even makes a possible romantic connection with Susan, most of the residents are cautious because of what he did. Eph works hard as a fisherman and even builds a boat, trying to prove he's changed and deserves forgiveness, while grappling with past actions and the town’s suspicions. The story centers on Eph's goal to redeem himself and show the villagers he can be a valuable member of their society again.