"As It Was in the Beginning" by Philip Verrill Mighels is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story begins with Grenville, a man chosen by his wealthy friend Fenton to travel to China and bring back Fenton's fiancée, Elaine. The narrative quickly develops into a tale of unexpected romance and peril as Grenville finds himself caught between loyalty to his friend and his growing feelings for Elaine during their ocean voyage. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to Grenville, who initially appears skeptical and reserved about his friend’s request. However, as he prepares for the journey, he begins to feel excitement for the adventure ahead. Along the way, Grenville and Elaine embark on a transformative journey across the sea, where they face personal conflicts, dangerous storms, and the mysterious wildlife of a deserted island after their ship wrecks. The opening sets up a tension-filled exploration of love, duty, and survival, hinting at the challenges they will face as they navigate this uncharted territory both physically and emotionally. (This is an automatically generated summary.)