The years between 1784 and 1786 are a period in which beaver fur is as valuable as gold. Brash young men travel thousands of miles in fragile canoes into the wild interior of Canada to procure the pelts that will make them millionaires. Simon McTavish is one of the most successful fur traders of all-until his obsession for a beautiful woman takes him off course.

Just before setting sail for North America after a visit to England, Simon meets Margaret Brownell, a beautiful young half-caste on her way to Montreal to meet the young British lieutenant who is her fiancee. By the time the...