Do you believe in ghosts? Heather Black doesn't. She is a lonely but brave orphan who has runaway from Snowden's Home for Children. The year is 1911, and Heather has taken just about as much as she can take from the cruel headmaster. Despite repeated warnings about the "Haunted House" beyond the woods, Heather takes off in search of the mysterious dwelling; knowing full well that no one will follow.A lonely but brave orphan has runaway from Snowdon's Home for Children. The year is 1911, and Heather has taken just about as much as she can take from the cruel headmaster. Despite repeated warnings about the "Haunted House" beyond the woods, Heather takes off in search of the mysterious dwelling; knowing full well that no one will follow. Along the way Heather meets a miriad of circus freaks who live in small huts and befriends an 18 year old boy who has been living in a tree house on the border of the orphanage's property ever since he was thrown out when he became of legal age.