Devon 1775. A tale of infamy, smuggling and assassination. A temporary rector arrives in the Devon village of Ashprington, but he's certainly not what he seems to his parishioners-to-be. The church of St David in Ashprington sees the arrival of the Reverend Ebenezer Dunn with instructions from the French to spy on the bustling harbour of Dartmouth and to create instability amongst the inhabitants in the villages and hamlets along the River Dart. He embraces his mission with fervour, seeing it also as a means of fulfilling his desires to follow a life of self-indulgence and affluence. Establishing links with Squire Roger Maddock of Darton Hall, a ruthless smuggling baron, Ebenezer forms a syndicate of smugglers from the village to undertake the hazardous smuggling contracts proposed by the squire. The drums of war are beating in the American colonies and a treacherous member of the village pressures Ebenezer to gather more information for his spy master in Plymouth. Hearing of a secret plan to bring King George III to the stately home of Saltram House, Ebenezer conspires with his spy master to bring about a disaster that would deliver a catastrophic blow to England and further fuel plans for an imminent invasion by the French.