LauraEastmanreturnstoNewYorkafterlivingintheSouthwithrelativesforfouryearstodiscoverthatherbrotherandfatherarepartoftheUndergroundRailroad,helpingfugitiveslavestoescapetoCanada.Whenafriendbringsarunawayslave,Martin,tothehousewhileherfatherandstepmotherareaway,Lauramustdecidewhatshebelieves--andwhethersheshouldhelpMartinescape.