The Waif of the Cynthia

The young Erik miraculously survived the sinking of the ship Cynthia and was taken in as a child by the fisher couple Hersebom. He looks different from the other children and is considered to be highly intelligent. Later, he undertakes medical studies and travels to sea to discover the secret of his origins. But other people seem to have an interest in ensuring that no witnesses of Cynthia's downfall remain alive.