The Promise / A Tale of the Great Northwest

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

23730

Title

The Promise / A Tale of the Great Northwest

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A rugged tale of redemption set in the Great Northwest, this novel follows Bill Carmody, a former athlete turned drifter who finds purpose in the logging camps. Blending action, romance, and moral complexity, the story explores themes of honor, sacrifice, and the transformative power of love against a backdrop of wild frontier life.

Summary up to 500 words

In James B. Hendryx's *The Promise*, the narrative follows William Carmody, a former college athlete and boxer known as "Broadway Bill," whose promising life spirals into alcoholism and street fighting after his father forces him into a dull bank messenger job. Following a night of excess and a police beating, Bill wakes in a hospital where he meets H.D. Appleton, a wealthy lumberman. Appleton offers Bill a choice: a comfortable office position or a hard life in the logging camps. Choosing the latter, Bill embraces the grueling work of a lumberjack, shedding his old habits and finding a renewed sense of purpose. While working in the rugged Northwest, Bill saves Ethel Manton, a woman he loves, from a dangerous situation involving the criminal Moncrossen. Despite Ethel's initial coldness regarding his past, Bill's integrity and physical strength eventually win her over. However, the romance is complicated by Jeanne Lacombie, a half-breed woman who also loves Bill. Jeanne reveals that Bill once risked everything to keep a solemn promise to an Indigenous woman, demonstrating his deep capacity for honor even when misunderstood. The narrative intensifies as Bill faces severe physical and moral trials. In a climactic confrontation, he defends a woman's honor against Moncrossen in a brutal fight, systematically dismantling the villain's attacks with cold, deliberate precision until the criminal is broken and defeated. As winter sets in, the camp becomes snow-bound, forcing the characters to confront their deepest fears and loyalties. The story culminates in a heartfelt reunion between Bill and Ethel, proving that true character is forged in the fires of adversity and self-sacrifice. Through his journey from a "souse" to a man of principle, Bill fulfills the promise that defines his soul, earning the respect of his peers and the love of his heart.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Local file path

data/epubs/pg23730.epub

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Categories

• Western stories
• Northwestern States -- Fiction