Alienated from his father Daniel and dissatisfied with a life in England burdened by debt and youthful mistakes, John Caldigate leaves for Australia with his friend Dick Shand in search of independence and fortune, travels through Melbourne and Nobble to the Ahalala goldfields where years of difficult work bring him considerable success and entangle him with figures such as Tom Crinkett and Euphemia Smith whose connection with him will later threaten his entire future, and after acquiring enough wealth he returns to England, reconciles with his father, renews old family relationships, and hopes to exchange the uncertain life of an adventurer for a settled existence at home.