A chance sexual encounter between Quamina, a mysterious black freewoman, and Lord Alexander Harlan, the wealthy and powerful white owner of the 18th century Jamaica sugar cane plantation Paragon Hall, sets in motion a chain of events that drastically alter the course of the history of the Harlan dynasty and their plantation. Through the clever scheming of Quamina, the fair-skinned son of a slave-girl enjoys the wealth and privilege of being a Harlan, while his dark-skinned twin brother is cast into the wretched life of a slave. Sparks fly when a murder at Paragon Hall pits the powerful fair-skinned brother sitting as a Judge against his dark-skinned twin on trial for murder.