Ruth Fielding Down East; Or, the Hermit of Beach Plum Point

Ruth Fielding has written her masterpiece, a movie scenario worth five hundred dollars to the right buyer. But during a violent windstorm, the manuscript vanishes from the summerhouse, stolen by a mysterious tramp who quoted poetry as he passed through town. When Ruth tracks the film company to the rugged Maine coast, she discovers her own story has been submitted by a stranger as his original work. Now she must prove the scenario is hers before her friends, her employer, and the entire world believe her to be delusional. Set against the wind-battered shores of Beach Plum Point, where a reclusive hermit guards secrets of his own, this 1914 adventure blends the intrigue of a mystery with the pioneering spirit of early Hollywood. Ruth isn't merely chasing a stolen manuscript; she's fighting for her reputation, her livelihood, and her right to be recognized as a creator in an era when women rarely received such credit. The setting itself becomes a character: remote, atmospheric, thick with fog and suspicion. For readers who enjoy early adventure series with a determined female protagonist, or anyone curious about what stories looked like before Hollywood had formal contracts and copyright law.