The Shadow of a Crime

About this issue

This 1916 religious novel by Mary E. Ireland, based on Alfred Raible's German work "Seile der Liebe," depicts the struggles of two recently released convicts. Theodore Summers, dark-haired and earnest, and Albert Stiller, blond and reserved, are unexpectedly freed after one year at Waterfield penitentiary when the warden grants early release for exemplary conduct. Released with meager resources and bearing the shame of their imprisonment, the young men travel north seeking employment. Arriving in Medina with depleted funds, they desperately search for lodging. An innkeeper initially offers board at four dollars weekly but refuses credit, forcing the destitute youths to seek alternative shelter. The narrative follows their efforts to secure work and respectability while concealing their criminal past, exploring themes of redemption, societal reintegration, and moral reformation. The story addresses contemporary concerns about rehabilitation and second chances for youthful offenders.