Reaching manhood in the tumultuous years before the Civil War, James Gould's son Horace returns to St. Simons and finds himself disheartened by the intolerance of others on his beloved island. However, he wins the heart of his lovely neighbor Deborah Abbott, who adores her ""Mr. Gould"" and becomes his wife, despite the difference in their years. But even though she is unconcerned with his rumored past, she is saddened by his lack of faith... Filled with romance, hardship, and adventure, this sequel to Lighthouse is a story of faith and courage that vividly portrays the antebellum South and an independent man's struggle to find happiness and his place in life.