It is 1917, and a rather ruthless world of war and men. Women find themselves overwhelmed by the despotic nature of men. And in Edinburgh, it is no different. The war rages in Europe and the poverty at home fouls the cobbled streets. Women had poor footing in a society that condemned them to a silent servitude of duty. Prostitution becomes a means of existence for many women. Mary Stewart, just a young woman, is the sole provider for her family on Poor Street. She rises from the ruined halls of shame. She thrives by her wit, by a power that few women were allowed to possess. There were the suffragettes, pioneering women who fought for equality. Banished from the only world she knew, Mary sets out on a journey of will and courage inspired by the memory of her mother. She joins the ranks of emigrants bound for Canada, a new world. She will face the shadow in the hearts of men. They will try to defeat her, but in the end, they are no match for the awesome power of a woman in full flight.