In the 1870s, Robert (Robbie) McEwan starts work as a miner, at the age of fourteen instead of the usual ten. He did well at school, and is offered the opportunity, by the Mine-owner to train as a Mine Engineer at the new academy in Edinburgh. His family, of course, are very pleased; especially his elder sister, Isobel. The condition is that he attends the local church, which his family are not so keen on. The Mine-owner’s younger son, Angus, is an unpleasant character, entirely different from his father. His main interest in life is himself, and he sets out to seduce any young woman he can. The Mine-Owner, Wilson Livingston, has an older son, Hamish, who is abroad when the story starts. We hear of his exploits at the relief of the citadel at Kandahar. He, also, is an entirely different and more pleasant character from his brother. This story is about Robbie’s love for Margaret (Margie), the Company Storekeeper’s daughter, who Angus has his sights on, and the problems that Robbi has easing the problems that Angus causes.