The Betrayal of John Fordham

"The Betrayal of John Fordham" by B. L. (Benjamin Leopold) Farjeon is a late 1800s story about a man named John Fordham, who is burdened by guilt and facing a dark fate for a crime he barely remembers. Grappling with despair and his affection for a virtuous woman, Ellen, John struggles with confessing his misdeed and the ominous influence of a spiteful enemy. The story begins with John reflecting on a past event that continues to haunt him. He loves Ellen, who has risked her reputation for him, and he considers confessing to his crime. The opening establishes a psychological exploration of morality, identity, and the effects of betrayal, promising a complex story filled with emotional struggle and a search for redemption as John deals with his guilt and family relationships.