An architect acquires a vast mountain domain and imagines a turreted summer hotel, but finds his aesthetic plans compromised by pragmatic partners and the realities of rugged Appalachian life. The narrative contrasts soaring landscape descriptions with the prosaic presence of a mountaineer cabin, mining ruins, and local customs such as autumn burnings; it traces the practical and moral tensions of development, speculation, and human relationships as newcomers and residents negotiate economics, taste, and survival amid wild scenery. Themes include ambition, cultural clash, and the shaping influence of environment.