The Country Doctor

A severe diphtheria outbreak hits the remote timber town. Several children die, underscoring the community’s desperate need for proper medical facilities. Dr. John Luke operates as an unlicensed general practitioner, often accepting barter for care.

Moved by the crisis, he resolves to travel to Montreal to meet the medical Managing Director and press for a hospital funded by the timber corporation. He hopes that official support will lead to a proper local hospital for the region.

He journeys to Montreal to present his argument in person, aiming to cut through bureaucratic red tape with a personal appeal. He hopes the MD's backing could spark action for rural healthcare.

At a public dinner hosted by the medical association, he interrupts to advocate for hospital access for remote communities. The bold protest draws attention to his case and highlights the urgency of reform.

The timber corporation learns of the protest and dispatches lawyers to retaliate against him. Around the same time, it is revealed that he has been practicing without a license, prompting police involvement.

Discouraged by the legal threats and licensing issue, the doctor returns to his remote station in low spirits. He questions whether his efforts will lead to any meaningful change.

Asa Wyatt comes to the doctor's house with his pregnant wife, who is about to give birth, begging for medical assistance despite the license problem. The scene sets up a crisis that tests the doctor's resolve.

The local constabulary warn that helping with the birth could lead to legal trouble. Undeterred, the doctor begins to assist the mother and receives verbal pressure from the authorities.

During the labor, the delivery proves to be multiple, and the doctor ends up delivering five babies. He perseveres through the long, tense procedure despite the looming legal consequences.

News of his actions spreads, and he is celebrated as a national hero. The dramatic outcome forces recognition of rural medical needs and the value of frontline physicians.

In response to the heroics, plans for a local hospital are set in motion and funding discussions accelerate. The community rallies to ensure proper medical facilities for the region.

Back in Montreal, the medical Managing Director is congratulated by the Governor-General for securing rural healthcare support. The endorsement signals official recognition of the need to improve medical infrastructure in remote areas.