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Light by Helen Modêt. A 19th-century American religious romance set in Clifton and the Harcourt/Waverley households. Mona Harcourt, nineteen and worldly, bursts into society with wit and charm, while her cousin Constance Langdon embodies steadiness of faith and a quiet yearning for a higher life. Across gatherings, church bells, and whispered confidences, two men shape the lovers’ destinies: Edward Hamilton, a brilliant though doubting lawyer who is drawn toward Constance’s faith, and Maxwell, a handsome but unscrupulous adventurer who pursues Mona and wounds those around him. As the circle of friends and family navigates social duties, pious duty, and romantic longing, secrets unravel: Maxwell’s past crimes, Hamilton’s struggle between reason and belief, and Constance’s vow to remain true to her moral compass. Maxwell’s crimes and their consequences culminate in tragedy; Hamilton’s redemption and marriage to Constance; Mona’s trials, and a renewed faith. The tale ends with a steadfast love and Light guiding them toward a hopeful future.