At the start of the 20th century Stephen Wyld, a mining engineer, is sent on a mission to Siberia. His employer has received a permit to explore gold mining development in the head of the Amur River. Far removed from the Tsar, it is a region of peasants, Cossacks, outlaws, and traditions. Stephen is a foreigner, in a land that goes on for ever, runs on a timeless schedule, and speaks in nuances. He quickly finds himself in confrontation with local controls. But he is an honest and hardworking man. Ultimately, in the timeless good-versus-evil conflict, he wins.