"Guy Mannering" is a novel by Sir Walter Scott,
published in 1815.
The action takes place during the 18th century, a period
between 1760 to 1780s, southwest Scotland in the Galloway area. The plot depicts lawlessness during those times when thieves and smugglers operated along the coast and country roads. Although the title is "Guy Mannering" the story is about Harry Bertram, heir to
Ellangowan. Harry, the son of the Laird of Ellangowan, is kidnapped as a child of five on the instigation of the lawyer Glossin who hopes to gain the estate himself.
Harry grows up with the name of Brown. He serves in the army in India and earned the good opinion of his colonel, Guy Mannering. At the same time, he also falls in love with Julia, the colonel's daughter.
The story builds up with a misunderstanding between Mannering and Harry when Mannering suspects that Harry is giving his wife a special attention. A duel follows and Harry is wounded. When he recovers, he returns to England and finds out that Julia is in Dumfries, in the neighbourhood of Ellangowan. He decides to go and see her. On his way to Dumfries, Bertram helps a lowland farmer Dandy Dinmont beat off a gang of thieves. On arrival at Ellangowan, now in hands of Glossin, he is immediatly recognized by Meg Merrilies, a gypsy woman who is devoted to the Bertram family. Glossin is determined to have Bertram murdered before he can discover his true parentage. However, Glossin's scheme is thwarted by Meg. He is also helped by Dandy. Glossin dies at the hands of his henchman, Hatteraick.
It's a happy ending with Harry regaining the estate at Ellangowan which is rightfully his in the first place. He also gets back Guy Mannering's good opinion of him, and eventually married to his love, Julia.