The immortal flame

In Short

Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Australian coast, Marie Bjelke Petersen’s romance follows Isma Folkestone, a strikingly beautiful woman seeking a secure retreat from a haunted past. Entangled with the ailing, devoted Lady Berriedale and her increasingly volatile husband, Lord Berriedale, Isma faces profound moral peril as the nobleman’s unwanted advances threaten her reputation. Guided and guarded by her cousin, Captain Falcon Folkestone, Isma navigates social exposure and emotional turbulence. The novel endures through its vibrant portrayal of natural landscapes intertwined with deep spiritual awakening and human frailty.

The Story

Isma Folkestone retreats to a wild, rocky Australian coastline, desperate to find a secure hiding-place where she can escape her haunting fears and live undisturbed. She settles near The Palms, the home of the ailing Lady Beatrice Berriedale and her husband, Lord Berriedale. Though Isma visits frequently to sing and comfort the severely ill woman, Lord Berriedale grows dangerously infatuated with her, repeatedly overstepping boundaries and plunging Isma into a state of terror and moral peril. Her cousin, Captain Falcon Folkestone, frequently intervenes as a watchful protector, navigating social gatherings, moonlight garden encounters, and treacherous river crossings to shield her from public scandal and the nobleman's aggressive, predatory advances.

Despite Falcon’s outwardly detached and pragmatic demeanor—at one point proposing a purely business-like, loveless engagement simply to manage the crisis and protect her reputation—both are driven by a powerful, unspoken bond. Isma is repeatedly torn between fleeing the sordidness of her situation and fulfilling her compassionate duty to Beatrice, who remains touchingly devoted to her and entirely unaware of the full extent of her husband's betrayal. Lord Berriedale’s obsession continues unabated until a fateful accident on the headlands leaves him with a severely fractured arm and a sprained knee, halting his pursuit and shifting the household's emotional balance.

As Beatrice’s physical decline accelerates, the surrounding characters grapple with unexpected spiritual reckonings. Lord Berriedale, humbled by his wife’s suffering and his own helplessness, turns toward prayer and God, evoking harsh mockery from the cynical Miss Brentford. Meanwhile, Falcon continues to guide Isma through motor drives into the sunlit Australian bush and along the silent beaches. During these excursions, Isma experiences a profound spiritual awakening, recognizing the Divine as a living, magnetic presence that purifies her soul and offers release from earthly turmoil.

The novel culminates at Beatrice’s deathbed. Surrounded by her grieving husband and companions, the dying woman experiences a sudden, miraculous surge of spiritual vitality. With a face transfigured by an unearthly radiance, she declares that the portals of Paradise are opening and that she is remembered, before passing away peacefully. In the wake of her departure, the remaining characters are left fundamentally transformed, having navigated the fires of temptation, grief, and spiritual redemption.

How It Unfolds

The hiding-place Isma Folkestone seeks refuge on a desolate, rocky Australian coast, desperately hoping to escape a haunted past and find lasting security. She soon reconnects with her cousin, Captain Falcon Folkestone, while becoming a comforting musical companion to the gravely ill Lady Berriedale.

The threatening advance Lord Berriedale grows dangerously infatuated with Isma, repeatedly pressing unwanted attentions upon her during social events and quiet evenings. His aggressive behavior plunges Isma into deep terror, threatening her reputation and forcing her into agonizing moral dilemmas that she tries desperately to manage.

The perilous rescue Falcon repeatedly intervenes to shield Isma, navigating hazardous environments, including a daring crossing of icy rapids and swollen rivers to reach her. Though he proposes a practical, unromantic engagement primarily to silence gossip and protect her name, their underlying emotional connection deepens despite his restraint.

The cliff accident Lord Berriedale's reckless pursuit is abruptly halted when he suffers a severe accident on the rocky headlands, fracturing his arm and spraining his knee. This incapacitation drastically shifts the household dynamic, leaving him physically broken, humbled, and wracked with inner remorse.

The spiritual awakening Amidst motor drives through the sunlit Australian bush and quiet walks along the shimmering shore, Isma experiences a profound realization of the divine. She perceives the Infinite as a living, magnetic presence that anchors her soul and purifies her from earthly sordidness.

The final peace The story concludes at Beatrice’s deathbed, where the ailing woman experiences a radiant spiritual revival and sheds her physical weakness. Declaring that the portals of Paradise are opening, she passes away peacefully, leaving the surviving characters transformed by grace.

The People

Isma Folkestone desires a secure, unblemished life free from sordidness and fear, but her stunning beauty makes her a magnet for danger. Standing in her way are Lord Berriedale's predatory advances and the constant threat of public ruin. She ends up humbled, deeply in love with Falcon, and spiritually elevated.

Captain Falcon Folkestone wants to protect his family name and guard Isma from disgrace. His obstacle is his own emotional reserve and the difficult circumstances surrounding Lord Berriedale's obsession. He ultimately steps forward to offer protection, shedding his detachment as their mutual bond solidifies.

Lord Berriedale wants to possess Isma, driven by an uncontrolled infatuation that defies his marriage. His barriers are his dying wife, his own destructive impulses, and a crippling cliff accident. He ends up physically incapacitated, humbled by grief, and turning toward God for redemption.

Lady Beatrice Berriedale wants peace, comfort, and the happiness of those she loves. Her obstacles are her failing health and a fatal disease. Remaining touchingly devoted to her husband and fond of Isma, she passes away peacefully after a radiant spiritual vision.

Miss Rita Brentford wants truth and stability, but is hindered by hypocrisy and her own sharp cynicism. She reacts to the unfolding drama with harsh mockery, remaining embittered and untouched by the spiritual grace found by others.

In Its Own Voice

Isma expresses her desperate need for safety upon arriving at the desolate Australian coast.

“My hiding-place--my beautiful retreat!” she exclaimed, under her breath, and looked with passionate intensity at the wild, rocky coast-line which stretched as far as eye could see on either side of the cliff where she was standing.

Lord Berriedale attempts to isolate and charm Isma during a society ball despite her protests.

“Isma,” he went on, in low, seductive tones, “come with me into the garden. I want you to see the moonlight on the roses.”

Lady Berriedale experiences a miraculous surge of strength and vision at the moment of her death.

“Paradise--Paradise!” she cried, her voice ringing through the room with triumphant clearness.

What It's Really About

The novel explores the tension between human frailty and spiritual redemption, examining how suffering can purify the soul. It questions whether individuals trapped in sordid circumstances can find genuine grace, contrasting the superficiality of social reputation with deep internal truth. The narrative posits that true security does not come from earthly hiding-places, but from establishing a conscious connection with the Divine. Furthermore, it probes the destructive nature of unbridled passion against the healing power of selfless devotion, demonstrating that moral integrity requires painful renunciations. Through vivid Australian landscapes, the book argues that human life is fleeting like a bursting bubble, yet elevated by divine purpose and spiritual awakening.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate classic melodramas filled with emotional intensity, moral dilemmas, and sweeping Australian settings will find much to love here. Reading the novel feels like stepping into a lush, theatrical world where characters experience love and temptation with heightened urgency. The atmospheric descriptions of sun-drenched bushlands, roaring ocean breakers, and dramatic cliffs stay with you long after the final page. However, modern readers must be prepared for certain period difficulties, including heightened melodrama, stiffly formal conversational dialogue, and moralizing prose that can occasionally feel heavy-handed or dated. Despite these literary hurdles, the genuine emotional sincerity of the characters, the rich vocabulary of the period, and the striking depiction of spiritual transformation offer a uniquely rewarding experience. It provides a fascinating window into early twentieth-century Australian popular fiction, rewarding patience with a deeply moving, transcendent conclusion that lingers in the mind.