Dan Oliphant

Lena McMillan

Dan and Lena share a deep, passionate romantic connection, often at the center of the story's emotional conflicts.

Harlan Oliphant

Dan and Harlan are brothers, bound by blood but often strained by rivalry and differing loyalties.

Martha Shelby

Dan and Martha have a complicated romantic history, marked by attraction and betrayal.

Mrs. Savage

Dan works for Mrs. Savage, a powerful and manipulative employer who controls much of his fate.

George McMillan

Dan and George are bitter rivals, competing for Lena's affection and social standing.

Sam Kohn

Dan and Sam are close friends and confidants, often supporting each other through personal crises.

Grandma Savage

Grandma Savage is Dan's grandmother, offering him occasional warmth but also family obligation.

Fred Oliphant

Fred is Dan's younger brother, looking up to Dan but caught in the family's dysfunction.

Earl of Ornaby

Dan and the Earl are acquaintances from the upper social circles, with little personal connection.

Miss Shelby

Miss Shelby is Martha's sister, and Dan interacts with her primarily through family obligations.

Mr. Shelby

Mr. Shelby is a business associate of Dan, with a formal and transactional relationship.

Harlan Oliphant

Dan and Harlan are brothers, bound by blood but often strained by rivalry and differing loyalties.

National Avenue

Marries Lena McMillan and moves to National Avenue, facing family disapproval and marital strain.

I

The lively, disorderly older brother who enjoys playing with ragtag boys and running a bracket-making business with Sam Kohn.

II

Graduates from university and enjoys New York's social scene; becomes infatuated with Lena McMillan.

III

Returns home from New York, dressed in formal attire, and reveals his engagement to Martha.

Chapter IV

Visits his grandmother and defends his engagement to Lena McMillan, but is troubled by her family's objections and the prospect of moving to New York.

V

Announces his engagement to Lena, feels hurt by his grandmother's reaction and the subdued response from his parents.

VI

Referenced as tirelessly working on Ornaby Addition, wearing shabby clothes, making speeches to bankers, and being laughed at by the town.

VII

Dan is deeply absorbed in promoting Ornaby Addition, neglecting his appearance and writing to Lena about the impossibility of a European honeymoon and the need to live in his city.

VIII

Lena's fiancé, who is the subject of her letter and her indecision. He is described as a 'likable chap' by George, but Lena resents his insistence that she move to the West.

Chapter IX

Perplexed and hurt by Lena's reaction; tries to defend his family, friends, and hometown, but fails to understand her distress.

The Heat of the Night

Paces the lawn in distress, trying to understand Lena's unhappiness and clinging to hopes for Ornaby Addition.

Chapter XI

Proudly shows Lena Ornaby Addition but fails to comfort her during the storm; inadvertently mentions Martha Shelby, causing Lena's anger.

XII

Mentioned as Lena's husband, a foolish but not bad person, and as the one who should have married Martha.

Chapter XIII

Absent from home, presumed to be celebrating the birth of his son; possibly at Martha Shelby's house.

XIV

Elated over his newborn son, Dan passionately discusses his plans for Ornaby Addition and a new automobile factory, and asks Martha to be his son's godmother.

Chapter XV

Dan is jubilant as a new father but is blindsided by Lena's anger over his visit to Martha, showing his obliviousness to her feelings.

XVI

Determinedly optimistic about saving Ornaby Addition despite financial pressure and family doubts; also troubled by Lena's rejection of Martha as godmother.

XVII

Receives only $3,500 from his grandmother's will but is overjoyed, seeing it as enough to save Ornaby Addition.

XVIII

Refuses family financial help, insists on building Ornaby Addition independently, and shows optimism despite his grandmother's lack of faith.

XIX

Discussed indirectly; Martha defends his Ornaby Addition project as a success, while Harlan claims it is financially precarious.

XX

Sits silently writing letters while Lena watches him, avoiding the topic of Martha's return.

XXI

Avoids Martha after her return, builds a carpenter shop for Henry, becomes embarrassed when meeting Martha, and shows signs of middle-age.

Chapter XXII

Shown as confident and defiant in his business dealings with Mr. Shelby, but awkward and evasive with Martha at the social event, suggesting guilt or discomfort.

XXIII

Dan is seen actively supervising construction of his factory and housing, described as being in his element, though his financial tightrope walking is noted.

Chapter XXIV

Reflects on his father's health and final words, continues his ambitious urban development projects, and remains impervious to criticism.

XXV

Grieves his father's death, struggles with Lena's independence and Henry's aloofness, and tries to connect with his son through forced joviality.

Chapter XXVI

Mentioned as president of the Broadwood Interurban; criticized by Harlan for ruining the city; defends his son Henry.

Chapter XXVII

Arrives late to the concert, looks tired, and confides to George McMillan about the fight to keep Ornaby Addition.

XXVIII

Searches for Henry, finds him drunk, decides to sell the car, and argues with Lena about Henry's upbringing.

XXIX

Suffering from fever and chills, Dan loses control of Ornaby Addition and the Four, and learns Lena has left with Henry.

The End of Dan Oliphant

Dying, he reflects on his failures and loss of Ornaby, but acknowledges Harlan's help.

XXXI

Deceased, but his legacy is invoked through the cars named 'Sheridans' and the preserved Ornaby district.