The Fifth String

In Short

A celebrated Tuscan violinist, Angelo Diotti, arrives in America to universal acclaim, only to be consumed by his love for a beautiful socialite. When his own talent feels insufficient to win her, he accepts a supernatural fifth string from a mysterious stranger. While the instrument grants him divine musical powers, it also binds his fate to the destructive forces of jealousy and pride. This brief, atmospheric fable remains a curious cultural artifact—a blend of Victorian romanticism and musical melodrama that serves as a cautionary meditation on the dangers of seeking perfection through dark means.

The Story

Angelo Diotti, a violinist of immense talent and refinement, captivates the social and musical elite of New York upon his arrival. During a reception at the home of a prominent patron, he is struck by the ethereal beauty of Mildred Wallace, the daughter of a wealthy banker. Diotti falls instantly and hopelessly in love, convinced that the young woman is his soul’s mirror. His debut at the Academy of Music is a triumph, yet he finds himself distracted by her presence in the audience, realizing that his music, while masterful, cannot fully capture the intensity of the passion he feels.

Struggling with the limits of his art and his own mounting insecurity, Diotti retreats into professional frustration. In a moment of absolute despair, he cries out for aid, and a sophisticated, gentlemanly stranger appears, identifying himself as Satan. The devil offers Diotti a violin equipped with a mysterious, black-wrapped fifth string. He explains that the string, woven from the hair of "the first mother of man," can express emotions—joy, pity, and love—that no human instrument can reach. Diotti accepts the gift, despite his reservations, and finds that the violin indeed elevates his music to a level of transcendent, hypnotic beauty.

Armed with this power, Diotti wins Mildred’s heart. Their love is intense, but the relationship is soon poisoned by the very jealousy that characterizes the human experience. Mildred, possessing a volatile temperament, becomes obsessed with the secret of the fifth string, sensing that it represents a bond to another power, if not another woman. Old Sanders, a family friend and confidant to Mildred's father, sows further doubt in her mind. He warns Diotti that a woman of Mildred’s nature can only be held by an unselfish love, and that his reliance on the instrument is a betrayal of the trust he claims to hold.

The situation spirals toward a tragic conclusion. Old Sanders dies suddenly under suspicious circumstances, and the strain of his death, combined with Mildred’s relentless demand that he play the fifth string—a string that will not respond to her love—pushes Diotti to the brink. When he refuses to play it, she turns against him, and his art, which once brought them together, now alienates them completely. The narrative takes a jarring turn toward a separate sub-plot involving the kidnapping of a child, Lillian Franklin, by a gang of local ruffians. A group of boys, led by the brave Sandy Coggles, tracks the captors to a remote hideout, leading to a violent confrontation on the river. The kidnappers are undone by their own incompetence and the treacherous currents of the "Devil’s Elbow," while Diotti’s fate remains tied to the silent, haunting strings of his cursed instrument.

How It Unfolds

The Artist’s Arrival Diotti is presented as a man of refined sensibility and immense popularity, whose arrival in New York is the talk of the city. He meets Mildred Wallace, and their immediate, intense attraction sets the emotional stakes for the remainder of the narrative.

The Temptation Frustrated by his inability to express the depth of his devotion, Diotti reaches a point of artistic exhaustion. Satan appears to provide a solution, offering the violin with the fifth string as a way to conquer both the world and the woman he loves.

The Power of the String Diotti discovers that the violin can command the emotions of any listener, effectively ensuring his professional dominance and his romantic success. However, the instrument’s power comes at the cost of his own autonomy and the purity of his relationship with Mildred.

The Seeds of Doubt Old Sanders intervenes, playing on the insecurities of both the lover and the beloved. By framing Diotti’s art as a source of potential infidelity or deception, he effectively turns Mildred’s passion into a destructive, jealous rage.

The Final Conflict The narrative shifts between the domestic tension of the lovers and an external struggle involving the kidnapping of young Lillian Franklin. While the boys succeed in rescuing the child from a watery death, Diotti finds himself trapped by the very instrument he once thought would grant him everything.

The People

Angelo Diotti is the quintessential romantic artist—handsome, poetic, and desperate to be loved. His desire for greatness and his fear of inadequacy lead him to trade his peace of mind for an instrument that ultimately isolates him from the very person he wishes to impress.

Mildred Wallace is a woman defined by her intensity. Initially a "child of marble," she is brought to life by Diotti’s music, but her love is quickly eclipsed by a corrosive, inherited jealousy. She represents the impossibility of possessing a person entirely, and her demands become the anvil upon which Diotti’s soul is tested.

Old Sanders serves as the architect of the tragedy. An elderly, cynical bachelor with a keen eye for human frailty, he views the romance as a game to be dismantled. His interference is motivated by a desire to protect the status quo, and his death leaves a void that accelerates the unraveling of the main characters.

Sandy Coggles stands apart from the high-society drama. He is a boy of action and loyalty, providing a sharp contrast to the sophisticated but morally compromised adults. Through his courage in rescuing Lillian Franklin, he represents a grounded, tangible kind of heroism that the tormented violinist never achieves.

In Its Own Voice

"It is true, Diotti's fame had preceded him, but fame has preceded others and has not always been proof against financial disaster."

The narrator reflects on the fickle nature of public favor and the uncertainty of artistic success.

"The fifth string was added after an unfortunate episode in the Garden of Eden, in which I was somewhat concerned."

Satan explains the dark, mythic origin of the instrument he has brought to the violinist.

"If you should marry a man she simply likes, her chances for happiness would be normal."

Old Sanders warns Diotti that a woman of Mildred's nature is fundamentally unsuited for the intense, all-consuming love the artist offers.

What It's Really About

At its core, this book is an exploration of the dangerous intersection of obsession and art. It asks whether perfection in one's craft is worth the cost of one's humanity, or whether the pursuit of such beauty inherently corrupts the artist. The "fifth string" serves as a metaphor for the secrets we hide from those we love, suggesting that any relationship built on a foundation of hidden powers or artificial enchantments is doomed to collapse under the weight of jealousy. The author argues that love, to be genuine, must exist in the realm of the ordinary and the vulnerable, rather than being manufactured through the tools of one's own ego.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the melodramatic flair of the late nineteenth century will find this a fascinating exercise in style. It is a quick, atmospheric read that moves with the brisk, sometimes jarring pacing of a serialized magazine story. The prose is earnest and occasionally grand, reflecting the era’s fascination with high-stakes romanticism and supernatural morality tales.

The book is not without its difficulties. The inclusion of the parallel kidnapping plot—featuring jarring, period-specific racial language and vernacular that is difficult for a modern reader to encounter—is a significant tonal shift that may feel disconnected from the central fable of the violinist. This secondary plot reflects the attitudes and narrative conventions of its time, which can be disorienting given the more refined, European-inflected tone of the main story. However, for those interested in the history of popular American fiction, it offers a window into the varied, often clashing sensibilities of the era. The emotional arc of Diotti—the man who has everything but realizes he has lost himself—remains a recognizable and poignant theme. It is a story about the danger of wanting too much, and for anyone who has ever felt the weight of their own ambition, it leaves behind a quiet, melancholy resonance.