The year is 1929, and newlyweds George and Serena Pemberton travel from Boston to the North Carolina mountains to create a timber empire. George has already lived in the camp long enough to father an illegitimate child, but Serena is new to the mountains. She soon proves herself the equal of any man, and the ruthless lord and lady kill or vanquish all who fall out of favor. Then Serena learns that she can't bear children, and sets out to murder George's son.