The Street Called Straight (novel)
The Street Called Straight is a 1912 novel by Basil King, a Canadian-American clergyman and author. After his earlier successes, the book helped make him very popular. The title uses a Bible idea about staying on the straight path.
The story is set in Boston’s rich society, often called Waverton. It follows Henry Guion, a wealthy lawyer who secretly embezzles money from a client to keep up his social standing. Olivia Guion, his daughter, is proud and well-mannered and is engaged to Colonel Rupert Ashley, a stylish British officer. Olivia doesn’t know about her father’s crime, and the scandal threatens to come to light.
Peter Vavavasour (now calling himself Peter Wayne) is a former suitor who has become a successful mining engineer. He returns home and secretly offers to pay off Guion’s debts to save the family’s honor and prevent Guion’s arrest. He does this out of Christian charity and without expecting anything in return.
The main conflict is about moral choice. Olivia must decide between her engagement to Ashley and the debt she owes to Wayne’s act of mercy. Ashley acts with honor but lacks the deeper sacrifice Wayne shows. Olivia ultimately breaks her engagement to Ashley and recognizes Wayne’s superior character.
The novel is often seen as a secular sermon on forgiveness and redemption. It contrasts a rigid, legal idea of honor with a Christian ethic of self-sacrifice and mercy, suggesting true nobility comes from helping others rather than judging them.
The Street Called Straight was later turned into a silent film in 1920 by Goldwyn Pictures. It was directed by Wallace Worsley, with Naomi Childers as Olivia and Milton Sills as Peter Wayne.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 16:20 (CET).