Loosely based on Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge and transplanted to 19th century America. Daniel Dillon is an Irish immigrant who settled in California during the Gold Rush of 1849. He's done very well for himself and owns nearly every business in the town of Kingdom. But Dillon sees his hold on the town under threat when Dalglish arrives in town at the same time as two women, the beautiful but ailing Elena and her lovely daughter Hope. Their presence is deeply troubling for Dillon as they a the keys to a dark secret, a secret he has kept from the people of Kingdom and one that could destroy him.