Short story written by Jack London The Son of the Wolf consists of a single man who is known as Mckenzie or "Scruff". The story tells of the hardships of what single men had to endure on the frontier. Often men would venture on journeys that may consist of months or even years just in order to find the right suitor. Scruff had been the toughest of the tough and had lasted the longest on the frontier without the company of a woman.

This story connects with naturalism by showing that nature can be just as cruel as it can be forgiving if someone is alone on the frontier.