"The Sin That Was His" by Frank L. Packard is a short story set in the Yukon during the gold rush era. The story follows the arrival of Arthur Leroy, also known as Three-Ace Artie, to Ton-Nugget Camp. Artie is a mysterious character, and the people of the camp know very little about him. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that Artie is not just an ordinary prospector. He is a skilled card player who uses his talents to cheat at poker games. One day, Artie crosses paths with a fellow gambler, who turns out to be an even better card player than Artie. In a fit of jealousy and desperation, Artie decides to cheat even more to beat Buck at his own game. However, Artie's luck runs out, and he is caught cheating by the other players. They confront him and give him a choice between leaving town or facing a punishment decided by the community. Artie chooses to leave, but not before being confronted by Buck, who reveals that he knows the truth about Artie's cheating. Artie is forced to confront the sin that was his and the consequences of his actions. Overall, "The Sin That Was His" is a story about the dangers of envy and the importance of facing the consequences of one's actions.
Frank L. Packard (1877-1942) was a Canadian author who wrote primarily in the detective and adventure genres. He was born in Montreal, Canada and worked as a civil engineer before turning to writing full-time. Packard wrote over 30 novels, many of which featured the character of Jimmie Dale, a gentleman thief who used his skills to fight crime. The Jimmie Dale stories were hugely popular in the early 20th century and influenced the development of the modern detective genre. In addition to his novels, Packard also wrote short stories for magazines such as Argosy, Blue Book, and Collier's. His stories often featured tales of adventure, the Canadian wilderness, and the gold rush era. Packard's work was well-received during his lifetime, and he was a prolific writer until his death in 1942. However, his popularity waned in the years following his death, and he is now largely forgotten by modern readers. Nonetheless, his contributions to the development of detective fiction and adventure writing in the early 20th century remain significant.
