Born a slave in 1847 but raised a free man in the African-American settlement near Chatham, Ontario, David King's life has been one long act of rebellion against the man who freed him: the Reverend William King. Eschewing his role as Reverend King's pastoral successor, David has opted instead to run an illegal after-hours tavern and pick up extra money by grave-robbing. Then his benefactor dies and David must search his soul.