Two Women or One? From the Mss. of Dr. Leonard Benary

A retired surgeon named Leonard Benary, now living a quiet life in the small American town of Adironda, finds his evening walk turned into a puzzling encounter. On a moonless night in June 1884, he spots a solitary woman slipping down a stone staircase toward the river’s edge, a place that feels both deserted and ominous. Instinct and a sense of duty compel him to follow, fearing she may be contemplating a tragic end.

As the darkness swallows the riverbank, Benary’s careful steps bring him to a narrow wharf where the woman stands, trembling and mute. He reaches out, offering reassurance while grappling with the unsettling mystery of who she is and why she chose this lonely spot. The scene sets the stage for a tale of intrigue, moral responsibility, and the thin line between chance encounters and destiny, inviting listeners to unravel the secrets hidden in that midnight hour.