The Plum Tree

At a frugal breakfast, Harvey Sayler and his mother weigh how long their dwindling resources can last. He has worked for Judge Granby for three years and wants to open his own law office, while she encourages him to act and offers to arrange the office and furniture. David Graham Phillips begins this political novel with a young lawyer's dependence on his mother's resolve, placing the pursuit of influence beside the practical need to earn a living.

Later, Sayler wields authority over legislators and an attorney general as wealthy businessmen seek to repair their standing with him. Apologies, threats to business interests, and a calculated request for a public endorsement reveal how private bargaining shapes political appearances. Sayler tells the story himself, mixing recollection with frank judgments about ambition and power. Readers interested in political fiction can follow the connections between money, personal pride, and the management of public life.