Julius Levy sacrificed everything to a ruthless ambition From quickwitted urchin caught up in the Franco-Prussian war, he plunged into the adventure and vice of Algiers Then to England where his dreams came true with a frightening swiftness As he clawed his way to wealth, he cared nothing for any of the people whose lives touched his, until Gabriel was born and then the dark passions she inspired in her father were to destroy them both