London, 1880. Left destitute after her father's death, Frances Irvine is forced to abandon her life of privilege and emigrate to South Africa. In a remote and inhospitable land, she becomes entangled with two very different men - one driven by ambition, the other by his ideals. Only when the rumor of a smallpox epidemic takes her into the dark heart of the diamond mines does she see her path to happiness. But this is a ruthless world . . .