Derek March is a handsome young man in 1895, newly arrived in Spencer's Mill, Ohio. All he wants is to settle down with a wife who will care for him, give him a family, and allow him to live a normal, quiet life. He becomes involved in a romance with Carrie Johnson, granddaughter of a local prominent couple, Christian and Susannah Wolf. But he has a past, and he's still doing a balancing act. Is he the old Derek or the reformed one? Can he keep his past and present separate by the force of his own will? Famous investigator Phineas Fletcher gets involved.

In this gripping tale, Derek embarks on a journey filled with challenges and twists that lead to an unexpected and poignant conclusion. Brace yourself for an emotional rollercoaster as the main character faces a fate that defies the conventional notions of a happy ending. It's a story that will linger in your thoughts long after you turn the last page.