With the bounty from his years as a pirate, Thomas Marlowe purchases a fine Virginia plantation from a beautiful young widow, Elizabeth Tinling. But a threat from his illicit past appears, however, as an old pirate enemy plots to seize the colony's wealth, forcing Marlowe to choose between losing all - or facing the one man he fears.

Thomas Marlowe, former pirate and captain of the Guardship, lives prosperously on his tobacco plantation near Williamsburg with his lovely wife Elizabeth. But when King James, the huge ex-slave who is in command of Marlowe's sloop, kills the crew of a slaveship and makes himself the most wanted man in, Marlowe is forced to go and hunt him down.