The son of an English peasant, Levi Roundtree has risen from poverty to create Cypress Villa, a beautiful plantation outside of Charleston, S.C., in the days before the Civil War. He is a compassionate master and enjoys a firm friendship with one of his slaves, Marcus Stanley. It's a relationship that carries over to the next generation, as Marcus's son and Levi's son become best friends.

During the Civil War, the Yankees try to burn down the plantation with Levi inside. Risking his own life, Marcus saves Levi; as a result, Levi makes him a free man. This sets the stage for Marcus...