The deluge.

This story is an examination of capitalism and its impact on the country. The hero, Blacklock, is a stock-market speculator, a rough rascal who mixes love-making with his stock-jobbing. Not only are most of the big men of Wall Street after Blacklock's scalp for its own sake: one of them shares the speculator's love for Anita, and a double motive for seeking his ruin is provided.