Izzy´s eBook Library - The Case of Mr Lucraft by Walter Besant

The Case of Mr Lucraft
Author: Walter Besant
Year: 1875
Origin: Project Gutenberg

It's sort of a "deal with the devil" story. Mr. Lucraft doesn't seem to make a deal with the devil himself, but it's that kind of contract that has to be signed in blood. And it's not a deal including his soul. That's part of what makes this a different kind of story.

Lucraft is a young man working in a traveling theater company. He and the daughter of the theater company's boss fall in love. The boss fires Lucraft telling him he'll reconsider if Lucraft shows he can make money. Lucraft goes off to London to make his fortune, but falls on hard times. […]

(HardSF)