A flashback to Ardsmuir Prison shows the conflict in leadership between Jamie and Tom Christie. Tom is protestant and detests Catholics like Jamie. He has struck a bargain with the prison governor for leniency in return for prisoner cooperation. Jamie upsets that all; the men prefer to follow him. Back at Fraser's Ridge in North Carolina, Claire is trying to recover from her brutal rape at the hands of Lionel Brown. She is thrilled to have managed to synthesize ether as an anesthetic for performing surgeries. Through Major MacDonald, the governor has asked Jamie to accept a position as Indian Agent for the Crown. He politely declines. The major indicates he will now offer it to Richard Brown. Tom Christie shows up with his son Allen and his daughter Malva seeking a place to live. They have run out of other options. Jamie is gone at the moment, and Roger extends a welcome. On his return, this gives Jamie pause because the old friction between Tom and him is still palpable. Marsali is pregnant with her fourth child and Fergus has begun abusing both alcohol and his wife. Claire notices some bruises. Tom begins to build a protestant church community and agrees to build both a church and a school building. While cutting wood, he lacerates his hand which Claire has to suture back together. Richard Brown and his gang ride up claiming that Allen Christie has stolen a powder horn. They find it on him and he cannot deny taking it. When Richard tries to arrest him, Jamie says they will carry out their own discipline. In front of everyone, he administers 10 lashes with his belt on Allen. As he struts away, he tells Major MacDonald that he will accept the Indian agent position. Richard Brown is too despicable to hold that office.
