This 1897 novel tells the story of Lionel Brading, a brilliant but cynical artist who finds himself at the heart of a romantic intrigue. When a beautiful young woman begs him to save her from marriage to a man she does not love, she sets off a chain of events that leads to scandal and tragedy. With its intricate plot, vivid characters, and sharp social commentary, A Challenge is a classic of late Victorian literature. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.