Who is Mabel Pervin from Short Story Masterpieces and what is their importance?

Mabel Pervin is the daughter of a horse dealer. Her father has recently passed away. Mabel cared for her father and brothers for many years while the family fortune was still intact, and even after. While wealthy, however, Mabel was able to be safe and confident, knowing that she needed no one to maintain her life. Once the money is gone, however, Mabel becomes despondent and depressed, as she believes her life is over. With nothing left to look forward to, and no one left to take care of, Mabel attempts to take her own life. After she is saved by Jack, the local doctor, she convinces herself for a brief period that he is in love with her. Sadly, as Jack begins to fall in love with Mabel, she begins to question her own actions, and her own feelings.