A 19th century copper miner, travels from the borders of Devon to the coal mines of County Durham. Samuel's plan is to earn enough money to return, and marry his childhood sweetheart, Barbara. Their plans are shattered, when his letters are waylaid by the hand of her employer's son, who desires her. Receiving no word about their future from Samuel, Barbara, succumbs to his demands, and sleeps with him; thinking Samuel has lost interest in her, and found someone else to love. As time passes, Sam loses hope, and becomes intimately involved, with his passionate neighbour, Katie. Doubts and deceit change their love for each other, and when Samuel returns to Devon to search for Barbara, he suspects she has been unfaithful, and has born a child, fathered by the son of her employer. If his search is successful, he needs to decide between his passionate, neighbour, Katie, and his first love, Barbara. A tale of romance, passion, deceit and deviousness