The 1745 Jacobite rebellion in Scotland forms the backdrop to this novel. The plot deals with the involvement of the main characters, Rob McAlpine and David Buchanan, in the Government's strategy to allow the 'Rising' in the Highlands to take place, so latent support for the Stuart 'Cause' is rooted out and destroyed. While the main characters are fictional, the tale weaves its way through historical events and locations. International politics, freemasonry, high adventure and romance, lead to a tense finale, with far reaching consequences, on the dark shores of Loch Arkaig.