Book III

With the war having come to an end, Orry and Madeline are living in Richmond until Mont Royal can be rebuilt, where Bent and Ashton pay them a visit. Ashton thinks it's to get money out of Orry, but Bent has revenge in mind. Ashton pushes Bent into the river and when he awakens, he can't remember who he is. Madeline relocates to South Carolina, intent on rebuilding their former home. With the help of Prudence, she also wants to build a school. George Hazard visits Madeline with a business proposition. After his visit, Madeline gets a night time visit by the Ku Klux Klan. Just as he arrives home in Lehigh Station, Pennsylvania George finds that Bent has already been there.

When George Hazard learns that it's his sister-in-law who owns the majority shares in the mining operation at Mont Royal, he turns to his brother Stanley, who again does the right thing. George returns to Mont Royal with Madeline and as the new owner of the mine, makes his first act shuttering the company store. He and Madeline soon fall in love. When George learns that Bent has kidnapped Charlie's young son, he sets off to find him. He and Charlie track Bent down for a final confrontation. Back in South Carolina, George and Madeline prepare for an attack from the Klan. Ashton returns to find what remains of her beloved Mont Royal.