The story tells of the sorrows of Angie Smith the "Magdalen," caused through her betrayal by Walter Williams, the manager of the mill in which Angie is employed. In the beginning of his acquaintance with Angie, Williams proposes marriage to her, but later decides that it would be more to his temporal advantage to marry Mercy Mackey, the daughter of the owner of the mill. As the time approaches when Angie is to become a mother, Williams is accused of his perfidy by Mr. Mackey. The result is a violent, altercation during which Williams strikes Mr. Mackey and kills him, Angie being the only witness. The murder takes place in the mill yard, and as Mackey falls prostrate at the feet of Williams, Angie looks through the window of the mill and sees the crime. Due to her love for Williams she keeps the knowledge to herself. After the murder Williams forges Mr. Mackey's name to a paper, the purport of which is that it is Mr.