After the excessive military violence against protest marchers, the mood is grim, but labor action is suspended and workers grimly return to their jobs, except those who are fired for partaking. Mark discovers the cause of the excessive steel impurities and waves the romantic flirtation of a betrothed socialite Kitty Carlton once he realizes she dares not even consider going public with him as lover. Visiting his father, Mark learns from man attacking him that he wasn't just encouraged to emigrate for a better future but also to avoid him discovering a dark family secret: his Catholic first love's pregnancy.
—KGF Vissers