Beadle's Dime Novels No. 242

Graybeard, the Sorcerer (1871), by C. Dunning Clark, is a colonial adventure serial set in early Montreal. A mysterious recluse dwelling on Mont Royale observes Colonel Lefebre and a young aristocratic woman, Coralie Lavalle, atop the mountain. Lefebre, a decorated officer, presses his romantic suit upon her, but Coralie refuses him, explaining she has devoted herself to discovering her true parentage—an unknown father whose name rightfully belongs to her. When Lefebre grows aggressive, an old, bent hermit emerges from the undergrowth and confronts him, revealing knowledge of "the tragedy at Quebec" and "forged letters" that implicated Lefebre in some crime. Despite Lefebre's attempts to kill him with sword and pistol, the old man defeats him with martial skill, claiming to be an "avenging fate." Coralie intercedes, ordering Lefebre to cease his violence.