Moving from Kinraddie to the mill town of Segget, Chris Guthrie is now married to a young and idealistic minister, Robert. Her unease grows as she struggles to understand the dark moods that engulf her new husband as his vision for the town is met with resistance.
Political unrest grows in Segget as Chris dreams of having another child. As Robert finds it hard to exact any change in the town, the return of the Laird helps little.
Testing times in Segget as Chris is met with suspicion and town rumours, which upset Robert. Clashes with the striking miners ends in tragedy.
Chris and Robert are wearied by life as they increasingly find they can do little to help the townsfolk after the closure of the mills. The mills’ demise leaves families homeless with devastating consequences. Robert’s health deteriorates.