Kindred of the Dust

In the mist‑shrouded inlet of the Bight of Tyee, a self‑made lumber magnate known as “The Laird” watches over his fledgling town of Port Agnew from a cliff‑top house, its flag a bold emblem of his growing fleet. He spends his days smoking, sketching grand schemes for electric power, and greeting returning ships with a brass cannon’s salute that has become a familiar greeting for his crews. The community, a patchwork of trappers, indigenous traders, and hopeful settlers, revolves around his ambitious plans and the steady rhythm of the sawmill.

When the barkentine Hathor sails past, the customary salute is strangely absent, and whispers of a family scandal begin to surface. Rumors swirl about his son Donald’s tangled affections for the spirited Nan of the Sawdust Pile, hinting at a strain that could unsettle the delicate balance of loyalty and ambition. As the Laird’s health wanes and the town’s future hangs in the balance, the stage is set for a clash between personal desire and the relentless drive of frontier enterprise.