The World for Sale, Volume 2

In Short

Set against the backdrop of two feuding Canadian frontier towns, Lebanon and Manitou, this narrative follows the ambitious capitalist Ingolby as he attempts to bridge economic divides and merge railways. His modernizing vision sparks fierce racial and class friction, exploited by local agitators like Felix Marchand. Simultaneously, Ingolby falls into a deep emotional entanglement with Fleda Druse, whose nomadic Romany family and menacing husband, Jethro Fawe, draw him into a web of ancient loyalties, violence, and tragic personal sacrifice.

The Story

Ingolby, an ambitious industrialist known as the "Chief," seeks to unite the rival towns of Lebanon and Manitou through a railway combine and a symbolic bridge across the Sagalac River. His plans face constant friction from local factions, stirred up by figures like the dissolute Felix Marchand, who exploits French-Canadian and Catholic prejudices to incite strikes and anti-Lebanon hostility. Seeking firsthand intelligence, Ingolby disguises himself as an elderly man and infiltrates a volatile gathering at Barbazon's Hotel in Manitou. His cover is blown by Jethro Fawe, a hostile Romany who exposes him as a spy, turning the crowd heavily against him.

Parallel to this economic struggle runs a turbulent personal drama involving Fleda Druse, the daughter of Gabriel Druse, the leader of the Romanys. Fleda carries the heavy memory of an unhappy marriage to the late Dennis and finds herself pursued by Jethro Fawe, who claims her as his wife under strict Romany law. Despite her traditional ties, Fleda shares a profound, silent mutual attraction with Ingolby, who once rescued her at the Carillon Rapids. Gabriel Druse enforces tribal justice by forbidding Jethro's path markers, yet Jethro persists with menacing serenades and bitter defiance, while other local disruptions, such as the theft of an Indian chief's lantern at Tekewani's Reserve, compound the community's unrest.

Tensions culminate around a high-stakes Orange funeral where sectarian violence threatens to erupt. Although religious leaders like Monseigneur Lourde attempt to counsel peace, the atmosphere remains explosive. Amidst these mounting perils, Ingolby falls victim to an attack that robs him of his sight. Confined to his bed, the once-omnipotent capitalist confronts the agonizing reality of blindness, realizing that his immense enterprises and grand designs now depend entirely on the honesty and eyes of others.

Despite his physical helplessness, Ingolby's protective instincts remain unbroken. When saboteurs attempt to blow up his vital bridge, a delirious, blind Ingolby stumbles out into the night to defend his creation single-handedly. Frightened by his ghostly appearance, the dynamiters hesitate just long enough for the temporary Chief Constable and Gabriel Druse to arrive. Collapsing from exhaustion and trauma, Ingolby murmurs Fleda's name. Gabriel carries him safely to his home, where Fleda awaits the judgment of fate at her threshold.

How It Unfolds

The industrial blueprint Ingolby inspects his properties and discusses regional conspiracies with local dealers like Jowett and Fabian Osterhaut. He weighs the slow-moving nature of truth against sensational newspaper lies.

A masterclass in music A mysterious Romany musician plays a remarkably evocative violin in old Berry's barber-shop, capturing the sorrow of slave days. He later visits Ingolby's quarters to play a dark, menacing melody filled with hidden malice.

Unmasked in Manitou Ingolby disguises himself in a wig and beard to overhear anti-Lebanon sentiment at Barbazon's Hotel. When Jethro Fawe strips away his disguise, the hostile crowd turns violently against him as a spy.

The shadow at the window Fleda Druse reflects on her unhappy marriage and the heavy traditions of her nomadic upbringing. In the dark of night, Jethro Fawe haunts her window with a threatening Romany song of vengeance.

The decree of the Ry Gabriel Druse banishes Jethro and declares that tribal law and death will dissolve improper claims. Yet Jethro remains defiant, vowing to keep Fleda from any gorgio capitalist.

The silent darkness Recovering from a severe assault, Ingolby grapples with the terrifying realization that he is permanently blind. He wrestles with the helplessness of directing his vast enterprises through others while relying on trusted friends.

Defending the bridge Driven by delirium, a blind Ingolby stumbles out to confront saboteurs targeting his beloved bridge. Gabriel Druse arrives just in time to rescue him, carrying the unconscious capitalist to Fleda's door.

The People

Ingolby, the driven capitalist and railway "Chief," wants to unite Lebanon and Manitou through modern commerce and infrastructure. His obstacles include bitter racial prejudices, strikes, and a blinding physical attack that leaves him helpless. He ends up stripped of his sight, relying on others, yet retains his indomitable spirit.

Fleda Druse wants freedom from a painful past and an oppressive marriage to the late Dennis. Burdened by her Romany heritage and pursued relentlessly by Jethro Fawe, her main obstacle is the heavy hand of tribal custom. She ultimately finds her fate intertwined with the wounded Ingolby.

Jethro Fawe is a hot-blooded Romany who wants to claim Fleda as his lawful wife and destroy his rivals. Hindered only by the stern decrees of Gabriel Druse, his fierce obsession drives him toward inevitable doom.

Gabriel Druse, the leader of the Romanys known as the Ry, wants to uphold ancient tribal honor and protect his daughter. Though bound by rigid traditions, his alliance with local leaders and intervention at critical moments guide the unfolding tragedy.

Jim Beadle, Ingolby's resourceful mulatto man-servant, wants to manage his master's life efficiently. He successfully overcomes every domestic obstacle, famously introducing terms like "Succelency" and "finger-bowl lady" to the Western lexicon.

In Its Own Voice

Ingolby coldly warns the horse-dealer Jowett about the severe legal consequences of a local conspiracy.

"Take care what you're saying, Jowett," he said. "It's a penitentiary job, if it can be proved. Are you sure you got it right?"

Old Berry explains the deep emotional weight behind an old violin's raw sound in his barber-shop.

"It's got the cotton-fields and the slave days in it. It's got the whip and the stocks in it; it's got the cry of the old man that'd never see his children ag'in."

Ingolby reflects on the frustrating asymmetry between false accusations and factual corrections during a conversation with Dr. Rockwell.

"You never can really overtake a newspaper lie. Lots of the people who read the lie don't see the denial. Your truth doesn't overtake the lie--it's a scarlet runner."

What It's Really About

The narrative explores the frictions that arise when modern industrial capitalism collides with ancient tribal loyalties and rigid cultural traditions on the Canadian frontier. It investigates the heavy weight of the past, showing how generational habits, racial prejudices, and unyielding customary laws shape human destiny just as powerfully as economic forces. Beneath the plot of railway combines and sectarian riots lies a deeper inquiry into vulnerability, trust, and the profound isolation of a leader stripped of his senses. Ultimately, it questions whether human progress can ever truly reconcile deeply ingrained ethnic divides or escape the inescapable pull of personal fate and retribution.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate rich frontier drama, atmospheric historical settings, and complex character dynamics will find much to admire in this work. Reading it feels like stepping into a brisk, windswept landscape where modern industrial ambition clashes directly with untamed wilderness traditions. Gilbert Parker writes with a vivid sense of place, capturing everything from the clatter of frontier barber-shops to the haunting strains of Romany violins echoing through the dark. Modern readers should approach it with an awareness of its period attitudes, specific regional dialects, and nineteenth-century racial dynamics, which reflect the social biases of the era rather than contemporary viewpoints. Yet what stays with you long after the final page is the striking image of a powerful man brought low by darkness, and the quiet resilience of characters caught between duty and desire. The book offers a compelling window into a bygone era of Canadian expansion, marked by sharp contrasts between industrial progress and ancestral loyalties.