The Judas Tree; by A. J. Cronin.

A man who was well to do and on his way to become a doctor, and fell in love with a country girl, but could not sustain his promise to return to marry her, and is haunted by the memory of his having cheated on her.

He returns to look for her, and is startled to see her - young, fresh, the same beautiful innocent person he remembered. It is in fact her - but not his - daughter.

Filled with remorse about the way he treated the mother badly he resolves to make it up to the daughter, and decides he will give her everything he can, everything he should have given the mother - only to find himself repeating the same treacherous action, weak character that he is; he has deceived and used the daughter the same way he did the mother.

The Judas tree is a symbol, which stands outside his bedroom with his second - also wealthy - wife. And an indication of doom. To his character, his spirit, if not his life - which is spent anyway, even if he were to punish himself.

He missed his chance of retribution more than once, due to weak character, chronic cowardice, making compromises where one should not, and an ability and a habit of cheating the best in himself, and telling himself it will be all right.