十八岁的嘉莉，漂亮而胆小，性格单纯，为了谋生，她满怀着希望和对大都市繁华生活的幻想来到芝加哥，可是面对她的却是贫困与失业。无奈之下，她和推销员杜洛埃同居，后来又成为酒店经理赫斯渥的情妇。在纽约，一个偶然的机会使嘉莉成为演员，并大获成功。但是丰裕的生活并未带给她幸福，她依然觉得孤独、无助，她不知道耀眼的光华背后有多少谎言、邪恶和伪善在等着她……

Now was a slight chance to say a word in his own behalf.He leaned over quietly and continued his steady gaze. Hefelt the critical character of the period. She endeavouredto stir, but it was useless. The whole strength of a man'snature was working. He had good cause to urge him on.He looked and looked, and the longer the situation lastedthe more difficult it became. The little shop-girl wasgetting into deep water. She was letting her few supportsfloat away from her.
"Oh," she said at last, "you mustn't look at me likethat."
"I can't help it," he answered.
She relaxed a little and let the situation endure,giving him strength.
"You are not satisfied with life, are you?"
"No," she answered, weakly.
He saw he was the master of the situation--he felt it.He reached over and touched her hand,
"You mustn't," she exclaimed, jumping up.
"I didn't intend to," he answered, easily.
She did not run away, as she might have done. Shedid not terminate the interview, but he drifted off into apleasant field of thought with the readiest grace. Not longafter he rose to go, and she felt that he was in power.
"You mustn't feel bad," he said, kindly; "things willstraighten out in the course of time."
She made no answer, because she could think ofnothing to say.
"We are good friends, aren't we?" he said, extendinghis hand.
"Yes," she answered.
"Not a word, then, until I see you again."
He retained a hold on her hand.
"I can't promise," she said, doubtfully.

Chapter 1
The Magnet Attracting—A Waif AmidForces
Chapter 2
What Poverty Threatened—Of Granuite andBrass
Chapter 3
Wee Question of Fortune—Four-Fifty a Week
Chapter 4
The Spendings of Fancy—Facts Answer With Sneers
Chapter 5
A GUttering Night Hower the Use of a Name
Chapter 6
The Machine and the Maiden A Knight of To-day
Chapter 7
The Lure of the Material Beauty Speaks for Itself
Chapter 8
Intimations by Winter—An Ambassador Sunnnoned
Chapter 9
Convention's Own ~nder-Box- The Eye
That Is Green
Chapter 10
The Counsel of Winter—Fortune's Ambassador Calls
Chapter 11
The Persuasion of Fashion—Feeling Guards O'er Its Own
Chapter 12
Of the Lamps of the Mansions m The Ambassador Plea
Chapter 13
His Credentials Accepted—A Babel of Tongues
Chapter 14
With Eyes and Not Seeing—One Influence Wanes
Chapter 15
The Irk of the Old Ties—The Magic of Youth
Chapter 16
A Witless Aladdin—The Gate to the World
Chapter 17
A Glimpse Though the Gateway- Hope Lightens the Eye
Chapter 18
Just Over the Border—A Hail and Farewell
Chapter 19
An Hour in Elfland—A Clamour Half Heard
Chapter 20
The Lure of the Spirit—The Flesh in Pursuit
Chapter 21
The Lure of the Spirit—The Flesh in Pursuit
Chapter 22
The Blaze of the Tinder—Flesh Wars with the Flesh
Chapter 23
A Spirit in Travail—One Rung Put Behind
Chapter 24
Ashes of Tinder—A Face at the Window
Chapter 25
Ashes of Tinder—The Loosing of Stays
Chapter 26
The Ambassador Fallen—A Search for the Gatq
Chapter 27
When Waters Engulf US We Reach for a Star
Chapter 28
A Pilgrim，an Outlaw—The Spirit Detained
Chapter 29
The Solace of Travel—The Boats of the Sea
Chapter 30
The Kingdom of Greatness—The Pilgrim a Dream
Chapter 31
A Pet of Good Porttme—Broadway Haunts Its Joys
Chapter 32
The Peast of Belshazzar—A Seer to Translate
Chapter 33
Without the Walled City—The Slope of the Years
Chapter 34
The Grind of the Millstones—A Sample of Chaff
Chapter 35
The Passing of Effort—The Visage of Care
Chapter 36
A Grim Retrogression—The Phantom of Chance
Chapter 37
The Spirit Awakens New Search for the Gate
Chapter 38
In Elf Land Disporting—The Grim World Without
Chapter 39
Of Lights and of Shadows—The Parting of Worlds
Chapter 40
A Public Dissension—A Final Appeal
Chapter 41
The Strike
Chapter 42
A Touch of Spring—The Empty Shell
Chapter 43
The World Turns Flatterer—An Eye in the Dark
Chapter 44
And This Is Not Elf Land—What Glod Will Not Buy
Chapter 45
Curious Shifts of the Poor
Chapter 46
Stirring Troubled Waters
Chapter 47
The Way of the Beaten—A Harp in the Wind
……