The Refugees: A Tale of Two Continents

by Arthur Conan Doyle
Available from Inheritance Publications and Amazon
*****
The first half of the book takes place in France, mostly having to do with the royal court and the service of the king. It has the excitement, drama, and intrigue of Dumas’ The Three Musketeers, only the young man we are watching is a Christian. Eventually he must choose between his faith, and his position. He is engaged to his cousin, also a Huguenot. When it becomes illegal to hold to their faith, they make a narrow escape across the ocean, with the help of two Americans. The Puritan sea captain conforms to the modern stereotype of the Puritans, with a disapproving glance at pleasure in God’s creation (considering that we are not meant to enjoy life) and a habit of soberly calling down Biblical curses on those who are not of his way of thinking. My main disappointment in the book was this portrayal of New England Puritans. The other American is a backwoodsman, whose ideas tend to be much more liberal than his Puritan friend. Adele’s father, being weak in health, asks that the two young people marry before his death, which occurs on the voyage. They also suffer shipwreck.

When they arrive in Canada, the Huguenots are discovered to be escaping persecution in France, and a Jesuit persistently follows them, to return them to “justice” and the Catholic religion. Their American friends help them to escape their prison ship which was to return them to France. They meet new companions, and see them scalped by the hostile Indians. As they flee on, they are eventually captured by the Indians, with the Jesuit still behind them. Once again, they are rescued just in time, and finally reach safe territory, where they are free to believe the truth of God’s Word without interference.

The story is encouraging to see what others have been willing to suffer for their faith in Christ, and to see the history of so many who fled persecution. It is also a complex story, with many pieces which are eventually pulled together, and an unexpected complication to the plot around every corner. There is never a boring chapter, and though Christ shines through it, it is never preachy. I so appreciate riveting storylines that also hold up the Lord, and those who place their trust in Him. This book definitely falls into that category.