Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Harry discovers Cleo with another man and responds violently. He takes the infant away, seeks a good home, and surrenders to the authorities.

Harry Runs Gambling House — Harry owns a gambling house and relies on heliotrope as a good-luck charm. Characters: Harry
Cleo's Infidelity Discovered — Harry catches his wife with another man. Characters: Harry, Harry
The Shooting — Harry shoots the man he finds with Cleo. Characters: Harry, Harry
Harry Takes the Infant — Harry takes his eighteen-month-old daughter away after the shooting. Characters: Harry
Seeking A Good Home — Harry brings the child to a trusted friend to find her a good home. Characters: Harry
Harry Surrenders — Harry turns himself in after the shooting. Characters: Harry
Life Sentence Begins — Harry receives a life sentence and enters prison. Characters: Harry

Harry receives a life sentence, and seventeen years pass. Cleo later faces the possible loss of her work as a burlesque dancer.

Seventeen Years Pass — The story advances seventeen years after Harry's imprisonment. Characters: Harry, Harry
Cleo Faces Unemployment — Cleo is close to losing her job as a burlesque dancer. Characters: Harry

Cleo decides to blackmail the child's devoted adoptive parents. Harry learns of the threat and promises to protect the child while on parole.

Cleo Plans Blackmail — Cleo decides to blackmail the child's devoted adoptive parents. Characters: Harry
Harry Learns The Threat — Harry discovers that Cleo is threatening the adoptive family. Characters: Harry, Harry
Harry Makes A Promise — Harry promises the prison warden that he will protect the child while on parole. Characters: Harry
Harry Receives Parole — Harry leaves prison on parole with a stated protective mission. Characters: Harry

Harry receives parole and trades places with the adoptive family's butler. His new position allows him to discover Cleo's letter.

The Butler Substitution — Harry trades places with the adoptive family's butler. Characters: Harry
Harry Enters The Household — Harry begins working inside the household he intends to protect. Characters: Harry
The Hidden Letter — Harry discovers a letter from Cleo addressed to the adoptive parents. Characters: Harry, Harry
A Meeting Is Requested — The letter asks the adoptive parents to meet with Cleo. Characters: Harry, Harry

Cleo's letter requests a meeting with the adoptive parents. Harry goes in their place, meets Cleo, and begins fighting with her.

A Meeting Is Requested — The letter asks the adoptive parents to meet with Cleo. Characters: Harry, Harry
Harry Takes Their Place — Harry decides to meet Cleo instead of allowing the adoptive parents to go. Characters: Harry, Harry
Former Spouses Meet — Harry meets Cleo in place of the people she summoned. Characters: Harry, Harry
The Fight Begins — Harry and Cleo begin to fight, leaving the confrontation unresolved in the provided plot. Characters: Harry, Harry

Story Breakdown

Gambling House Life — Harry's occupation and superstition establish his world before the crisis.
- Lucky Heliotrope — Harry relies on sprigs of heliotrope as a good-luck charm.
- Marital Breakdown — Harry's marriage to Cleo is shattered by her infidelity.
Violence And Flight — The discovery of Cleo with another man produces an irreversible crisis.
- Fatal Shooting — Harry shoots the man he finds with Cleo.
- Child Relocation — Harry takes the infant to find her a good home.
Prison And Separation — Harry accepts punishment and loses seventeen years of ordinary life.
- Self Surrender — Harry turns himself in after the shooting.
- Seventeen Years — The story jumps forward after Harry receives a life sentence.
Cleo's Desperation — Cleo's uncertain livelihood drives her toward coercion.
- Job Insecurity — Cleo is close to losing her work as a burlesque dancer.
- Blackmail Scheme — Cleo decides to blackmail the adoptive parents.
Harry's Protective Mission — Harry learns of the threat and uses parole to intervene.
- Parole Promise — Harry promises to protect the child while on parole.
- Butler Substitution — Harry trades places with the adoptive family's butler.
Letter And Confrontation — Harry intercepts Cleo's meeting request and confronts her directly.
- Hidden Letter — Harry discovers Cleo's letter addressed to the adoptive parents.
- Fight Begins — Harry meets Cleo instead and the former spouses begin to fight.