Trial by water

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

76668

Title

Trial by water

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In the rugged wilderness, a devoted husband tests his wife's loyalty against a charming stranger by forcing them through treacherous rapids. When the canoe capsizes, the wife instinctively reaches for the stranger, leaving her husband to save her alone. He emerges victorious, leaving her with a permanent scar as a testament to her choice.

Summary up to 500 words

Set against the treacherous backdrop of the Canadian bush, Sewell Peaslee Wright's *Trial by Water* presents a stark psychological drama centered on Jean Baptiste Chabrier, a quiet and formidable voyageur, and his wife, Charlotte. Their journey is complicated by the presence of Les Walters, a tall, blond, and jovial sawyer who embodies everything Jean Baptiste is not. After ten days of Les's companionship, Jean Baptiste becomes convinced that his wife is falling in love with the newcomer. Viewing love as a keen vision rather than a blind force, he decides to test Charlotte's heart before they reach the dangerous rapids of Assin-nebah, a stretch of water known as "rocky water" to the Crees. As the canoe approaches the turbulent waters, Jean Baptiste intentionally capsizes the boat, plunging the three occupants into the icy, swirling current. In the ensuing chaos, Jean Baptiste watches with a cold resolve as Charlotte instinctively reaches out to Les for help, ignoring her husband. Les, terrified and frantic, strikes her in the face and abandons her to the current. Charlotte struggles helplessly, her dress impeding her movement, as the water sweeps her toward deadly whirlpools. Jean Baptiste stands motionless in the flood, his face hardened, refusing to save her immediately. He observes the fresh, blood-washed scar Les leaves on her cheek, a tiny cut made by the sawyer's heavy seal ring. Only when Charlotte is near the bottom does Jean Baptiste intervene, sweeping her from the water and holding her against his breast. He watches her gasping, noting the crimson stain on her pale face. The story concludes with Jean Baptiste feeling a fierce satisfaction. He believes the scar will serve as a permanent reminder of her choice. The narrative suggests that a greater test has occurred than originally planned: it was not merely a test of Charlotte's loyalty, but a testing of two souls. Jean Baptiste accepts the scar as the definitive proof that Charlotte has chosen the man who can best protect her, thereby validating her love for him over the novelty of Les Walters. The tale ends on a somber note, leaving Charlotte with a visible mark of her decision.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Short Stories
• Fiction
• Interpersonal Relations
• Marriage
• Sports