1873... A landslide at a diamond mine in Africa leaves autocratic British army major, Spencer Shackerly, badly injured and in a deep coma. He awakens to find himself a helpless cripple and his military career over. Holding Lieutenant Jeffrey Guest responsible for his plight, he is determined to have the young officer face a court martial.

Jeffrey Guest has since returned to England, planning to marry his childhood sweetheart. On his wedding day he is blamed for the death of a soldier when the army attempts to arrest him. But aided by family and friends he manages to flee the country.

So begins a relentless worldwide manhunt. Shackerly uses his aristocratic family's wealth and influence in high places at home and abroad to mercilessly hunt down the fugitive across the United States, Canada and Australia until eventually the hunted becomes the hunter.