In a New England metropolis, local politician Wilson Tuttle has a brief conversation with a Mr. Holbrook regarding the Consolidated Railway, which is attempting to secure a charter to become a monopoly.

Later that afternoon, Lawrence Davis and Samuel Fox discuss the recent state of their company and the problematic activities of Tuttle.

At the popular summer getaway of Waterside, Brennan, Tuttle, Evelyn, and Helene engage in a friendly game of tennis.

Supposedly, Ward has been bribed and his timid nature might make him the prime target for the investigation.

Brennan immediately sneaks out to another hotel across town, where he collects some supplies and changes his appearance.

Brennan travels to see Davis and informs him that members of the Third House are skipping town as quickly as possible.

An astute student of politics, Tuttle fights the illegitimate actions of the Consolidated Railway and the Third House.

Hailing from a poor Irish background, Tom Brennan achieved success through his deceitful wit and charisma.

Despite being at the center of the political scandal, Helene's naïve nature creates distance between her and the situation at stake.

Being one of Hamlin Garland's less famous works, no real criticism for A Member of the Third House exists.

Classified as a realist, Garland strongly affirmed distaste for the treatment of romantic passion in fiction.

Garland's abundant affectionate recollections of male comrades suggest that he was incapable of exploring publicly the importance of heterosexual intercourse.

Although there is a foundation in A Member of the Third House for heterosexual romance, Garland dismisses the opportunity, placing his focus on the real, political issues at stake.

Nevertheless, Garland provides countless vivid descriptions of his male characters and their interactions effectively weave together the story.