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Wilderness duty separates a lawman from his fragile home

At the Allowa Police Reserve, Inspector Steve Allenwood listens to his Indian scout Julyman describe legendary hibernating tribes while wrestling with quiet unease about his young wife, Nita. Ordered on a two-year expedition a thousand miles north into the unexplored territory of Unaga to investigate two reported murders, Steve prepares his scouts and supplies. As Nita rides to a town dance with the smooth-talking Indian Agent Hervey Garstaing, Steve locks away his personal doubts to answer the call of remote duty.

PART I → CHAPTER III

Departure into the north exposes vulnerable human ties

Saddling his horse at the river station, Steve bids a reluctant farewell to Nita and his infant daughter, Coqueline. He leaves them under the care of Dr. Ian Ross, unaware that Hervey Garstaing is already waiting in the woodland shadows to intercept Nita. Steve pushes his river outfit north toward the headwaters of the Theton River and Fort Duggan. The expedition advances toward the mosquito-plagued borderlands, driven by the absolute authority of Canadian wilderness law.

CHAPTER IV → CHAPTER VI

Tragic winter isolations yield rare frontier discoveries

Reaching the lonely post in Unaga, Steve discovers that the resident chemist, Marcel Brand, has died, leaving behind his native squaw An-ina and young son Marcel. Steve gently conceals the tragedy from the young boy while burying the dead and preparing the fort for a brutal five-week Arctic blizzard. Inside the isolated lab, Steve uncovers Brand’s research logs documenting a revolutionary chemical substance named Adresol. Winter settles in, testing human endurance against sub-zero darkness.

CHAPTER VII → CHAPTER IX

Desperate relief efforts brave the ruthless northern trail

Inspector Jack Belton and Dr. Ian Ross drive a high-speed rescue outfit down the mosquito-infested Theton River after a Yellow-Knife messenger brings word of Steve’s extremity. Steve’s original party had been stripped of footwear and supplies by harsh terrain, forcing them to haul an injured companion on an improvised sled. The rescue party reaches the survivors in time, but Ross carries a crushing personal truth Steve has yet to face. Nita has abandoned her child and fled the territory with Garstaing.

CHAPTER X → CHAPTER XIII

Underground haunts harbor secrets across passing decades

In Quebec, investigator Saney watches the criminal underworld filter through Mallard’s waterfront saloon, a maze of hidden passages and soundproof rooms. A bearded fugitive using the alias Nicol chats with an English crook, evading police recognition despite published wanted posters. Fourteen years pass while the fugitives hide in plain sight and the wilderness buries old crimes. The passage of time sets the stage for new conflicts over the secret riches hidden far up north.

CHAPTER XIV → CHAPTER I

Wilderness upbringing prepares a new generation of hunters

Deep in Unaga, young Marcel grows into a formidable woodsman under the guidance of Steve Allenwood and An-ina. Trained in chemistry and wilderness survival, Marcel manages the fort’s fur traplines with boundless energy and complete devotion to his surrogate father. Meanwhile, at Seal Bay trading post, merchant Alroy Leclerc marvels as an independent young fur hunter named Keeko arrives with her own dog train. Youthful vitality begins to push against the extreme isolation of the northern outlands.

CHAPTER II → CHAPTER IV

Ruthless greed threatens the peaceful balance of trade

At Fort Duggan, Keeko boldly intercedes with a rifle to stop the brutal trader Nicol from quirt-flogging an Indian named Snake Foot. The humiliated Nicol harbors sinister designs on Keeko while waiting for her ailing mother to die. Concurrently, courier Tough Alroy delivers secret orders from corporate mogul Lorson Harris, tasking Nicol with locating and seizing the independent trading post hidden far to the northeast. Corporate corruption extends its reach into the unmapped wilderness.

CHAPTER V → CHAPTER VIII

Shared hardship in the wilds fosters romantic bonds

Marcel and Keeko journey into an unexplored valley near the glowing, volcanic Heart of Unaga to hunt valuable silver foxes. Navigating treacherous canyon rapids and marshy tundras, their mutual reliance transforms into deep affection. They accumulate a record harvest of pelts while trusting in their own inner strength rather than local omens. Amidst the fiery sky of the volcanic range, their partnership deepens into a shared vision of the future.

CHAPTER IX → CHAPTER XII

Treachery exposed forces a perilous race against murder

Returning to Fort Duggan, Keeko learns that Nicol has agreed to murder the operators of the northeast post—Marcel Brand's family—in exchange for a hundred thousand dollars from Lorson Harris. When Nicol reveals he is not her true stepfather and tries to assault her, Keeko holds him at gunpoint and escapes into the night. She immediately rallies her loyal native crew to travel north, determined to warn Marcel and Steve before Nicol’s mercenary raiders strike.

CHAPTER XIII → CHAPTER XVI

Sacrificial devotion protects an isolated sanctuary

Keeko and her native companions endure a punishing trek through melting spring snow to reach the Unaga fort before Nicol. Arriving exhausted, she delivers her warning to Steve Allenwood and Marcel, alerting them to the impending attack and corporate plot. Steve calmly prepares the post's defenses, undeterred by the threat of Lorson Harris or Nicol. Keeko’s selfless courage secures the safety of the post and earns the profound gratitude of the wilderness family.

CHAPTER XVII → CHAPTER XX

Unexpected recognition completes a lifetime of devotion

As Marcel brings Keeko inside the storehouse, Steve Allenwood gazes at the girl's striking blue eyes and realizes she is Coqueline, his long-lost daughter left behind years ago. Keeping his secret close to avoid disturbing her new happiness with Marcel, Steve welcomes her warmly as both father and host. The family legacy, the post, and the priceless hoard of Adresol are secured under his protective care. Patience and moral strength reap their ultimate reward in the quiet heart of Unaga.

CHAPTER XXI

Book

The Heart of Unaga

A northern lawman risks everything in the Arctic wilderness, untangling lost identity, corporate greed, and rare frontier devotion.

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