Charles Dupont, a young French nobleman with a striking appearance and boundless ambition, had left behind the comforts of his aristocratic life in search of fortune and success in the New World. Since his arrival in New Orleans, he had quickly learned to navigate its treacherous waters with resourcefulness and cunning. Seeking to make a name for himself in the land of opportunity, he discovers a talent for gambling and a deadly proficiency with a gun. As he makes his way through the city's seedy gambling halls, saloons, and riverboats, he meets a cast of characters who will travel with him on his journey.
To Charles, money is the ultimate symbol of success, and he soon learns that information is just as valuable as currency. Through early stock market trades and shady property deals, he amasses a fortune with the help of a vast network of pickpockets, thieves, and murderers who call the streets their home. But everything changes when he accidentally crosses paths with wealthy iron ore magnate Zacharias Smythe. Both men are vying for the same piece of land owned by the widow Laurent McCall, which has been negotiated for railroad development. In helping the widow, Charles' business dealings are exposed, and Smythe realizes he is up against a formidable opponent. He will stop at nothing to get what he wants, even if it means taking down Charles Dupont