John Alves, son of a Presbyterian martyr on the Portuguese island of Madeira, spends his childhood in jail and poverty. When he meets Mary Freitas, a spark kindles a lasting bond.
But soon their families must confront the rising blood tide of warfare between Catholics and Protestants. Fleeing with only what they can carry, John and Mary are separated and arrive at different times and places in mid- nineteenth-century Illinois. Years later, John and Mary reconnect, and the home of rising politician Abraham Lincoln provides a prime setting for their courtship. But conflict looms, and social jealousies and betrayals compound the obstacles unleashed by the Civil War.