Grief and Lavinia work to keep their relationship on track. Isabelle, who has an eye for Grief, decides to bide her time, whiling away the long, guilty Tahitian evening with the new British consul. Grief and Mauriti find a stowaway aboard the Rattler - a beautiful young Tongan woman named Tahura, who's chief has banished her because she refused an arranged marriage. Grief introduces her to Reverend Trent, who offers her work at the rectory, and ultimately falls in love with her, causing quite a scandal. In the process of discovering their stowaway, Mauriti finds bricks of opium - the Rattler has unwittingly become a drug smuggling ship. To Isabelle's horror, her British consul lover proves to be the criminal mastermind. Although Grief would love to kill the man with his bare hands, his deep concern for Isabelle prevents him. At her behest, the consul is sent to a new posting, leaving Isabelle behind with a broken heart and Grief knowing he didn't disappoint a friend.
—Anonymous