For the Term of his Natural Life

Richard Devine, on discovering the secret of his true parentage, finds himself disinherited and driven from his home in England; after changing his name to Rufus Dawes, he gets falsely accused of murdering his father and sent to a penal colony.

After changing his name to Rufus Dawes, he gets falsely accused of murdering his father and transported to the notorious Port Arthur penal colony in Van Diemen's Land for the term of his natural life, suffering under its brutal jailors.

In 1830's England, a young man from a good but troubled family is unjustly convicted of stealing a watch. He's transported to Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania) where he suffers under the enmity of Lt. Frere while falling in love with Sylvia, the Warden's daughter. Meanwhile, back in England, an imposter lays claim to the young man's inheritance.