After a Basutoland battle, young Harrison Clark has a prophetic encounter with a dying chief. Later, erroneously thinking he has killed the husband of the girl he loves, he flees his home and heads for the lands north of the Zambezi. After an exciting series of adventures with his friend Nwata, Harrison reaches the Zambezi where he becomes chief Changa-Changa and rules a vast area. He has a dangerous affair with Bonita, wife of the slaver Matakenya, but he also still loves the white missionary, Venetia. Although Harrison rids the country of the scourge of Matakenya and other slavers, his rule is finally ended when Cecil Rhodes usurps his claims. Torn between two cultures, Harrison is forced to choose between loyalty to his people and his love for Venetia.