Fury at Smugglers' Bay plot
Squire Trevenyan is the magistrate of an 18th-century village on the English coast, where a bit of smuggling has always been tolerated. He learns that a group of professional looters, led by the charismatic Black John, have moved into his district. They destroy ships and kill their crews to steal and then trade the cargo. The local population, mainly made up of traders, fair fishermen and some part-time smugglers, all want these looters to be stopped. But Trevenyan can do little, because he has learned that his son Christopher is in a relationship with Louise, the daughter of shopkeeper François Lejeune, who has bought stolen goods from Black John. In addition, Christopher is charged with murder, despite saying it was self-defense, and thus unable to testify against Black John's gang. Trevenan must determine that he is dealing with corruption in his village and the unclear role of the Duke of Avon in it.