"L'Abbe Constantin — Volume 1" by Ludovic Halévy is a novel published in 1882. When an elderly French priest learns that his village's estate has been purchased by an American actress rumored to be Protestant, he fears for his parish's traditions and morals. The arrival of the wealthy Ms. Scott threatens to upend the peaceful community he has served for thirty years. But appearances can be deceiving, and the dreaded newcomer may hold unexpected surprises for the anxious abbot. (This is an automatically generated summary.)