Chad, an orphaned boy, had stayed longest with the old man and his son and his girl and the old mother whom Chad remembers as Aunt Jane ("--she's been jes' like a mother to me...") But the plague, personified by its unchecked and insidious movement through the Cumberland, cuts down these four lives, leaving Chad and his dog, Jack, to seek another place to work and sleep. He comes to the Valley of Kingdom Come, and his noble resolve and conspicuous poverty appeals to the childless Major Buford. When the Major learns that Chad is a distant relative, he introduces the boy to the Southern aristocracy and becomes his mentor. Chad takes the notice of Southern belle Margaret Dean, but as gossip of his illegitimacy arises, Chad returns to the hills through the unselfish work of a mountain girl, Melissa Turner, who loves Chad and forsakes her love for his peace. The rumors are untrue, and he is absolved of accountability for deceit. He returns to Lexington, and the Civil War breaks out. Most of his friends and neighbors (the Bufords and the Deans) join the Confederacy while Chad and Harry Dean join with Union forces. Dan Dean is captured and sentenced to death while Chad's military squad is sent to investigate the Dean's house. Dan's life is redeemed when Chad argues the authorities in Dan's defense. Margaret accommodates the quarreling blue and grey forces by directly presenting their contentious disagreements for review. Melissa, meanwhile, goes back to the mountains, satisfied that Chad is happy. "Once again he was starting life over afresh, with his old capital, a strong body and a stout heart."