Jimmie-Lee Fuong's mother was by far the prettiest woman in outback New South Wales in 1890, and this was unfortunately to be the cause of much of the dilemma to confront his family. Murchison, Australia, Jimmie-Lee, affectionately known as "Rat" and his family are some of the first Chinese settlers in New South Wales. The law at this time was very much the "might is right" philosophy of the establishment and local law enforcers. When he is given and taught to wield a traditional Chinese sword, he and his father hope he will never have to use it. But when fate intervenes and his life and his family's livelihood are threatened, the carnage he leaves behind becomes legendary in his town, and a secret he has to hide. Soon we learn that he is not the only one haunted by family ties and a dark past, as his first visit to China reveals a much more harrowing story. Jimmie-Lee now has a family of his own - will he protect them as he protected himself, or will the fierce Tongs seek him out across both China and Australia and kill those he loves the most?