Philip Steele of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police

"Philip Steele of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police" by James Oliver Curwood is a story that follows a privileged young man named Philip Steele who chooses a life of service in the Royal Northwest Mounted Police in the Canadian wilderness. It's a tale centered on themes of adventure, the challenges of loneliness, and the tough choices between love and obligation. The story begins with Steele alone in his cabin during a storm, feeling homesick as he writes a letter. A human skull in his cabin reminds him of a past tragedy, and a letter from a woman brings up feelings of longing and regret. His inner conflict hints at a larger story involving relationships, the call of adventure, and the responsibilities he faces as a Mountie, setting the scene for complicated events to come.