Mordecai Rime is a legendary woodsman in his home of Sunbury Town and the surrounding area. He is rough around the edges, strong as an ox, and fast talking. Just to speak his name is to incite chaos amongst the schoolchildren. Their teacher, Mrs. Lucy, sets out to find the illustrious Mordecai Rime to give him a piece of her mind for stirring up her students. But Rime finds her, lost and crying in a bar, not used to the chaos and vulgarity. He immediately falls in love with her, and the two become a very close pair. They stay together all summer, and she becomes pregnant. Winter comes, and Rime must go North to the woods to fell trees. In the lumber camp, Mordecai meets Rudolph Larson, a cocky redheaded man who picks on him. Mordecai fights back and the two become certain enemies. One day, Rime cuts off Larson's beautiful long red hair. Larson decides to get back at Mordecai by going into Sunbury and telling Lucy that Mordecai has died. Lucy, who is still pregnant, is so full of grief over the death of her husband that Larson feels badly and regrets his choice, but cannot leave now. He stays and helps Lucy deliver her baby, and cares for her when she falls ill afterwards. He falls in love with the woman, but does not end up with her after word comes that Mordecai is in fact dead. He's carried to Sunbury in a barrel and the Rime house burns down as a Minister had prophesied. Larson returns to the woods, but is forever haunted by Rime, who manifests as a bird who Larson kills in an effort to rid himself of Rime. Rime returns more persistent than ever, manifesting as the winter itself, following and chilling Larson wherever he goes.