Séraphin is completely crushed by Donalda's disappearance. Sainte-Adèle has never seen him in such a pitiful state. He closes his work site and doesn't even react to Délima's threats.
Donalda returns to the village but Alexis, Siffleux and Évangéliste are nowhere to be found. The village fears the worst - Father Labelle is convinced that Donalda is the only person able to save the North by helping Séraphin to leave his dark thoughts behind him.
Séraphin wants to blow up the river logs, exactly where the bodies of Alexis, Siffleux and little Évangéliste lie, totally against the agreement with Father Labelle. Is Donalda ready to accept losing the little that remains of them, for the good of Sainte-Adèle?
A veritable miracle in Sainte-Adèle. After spending several weeks in hospital in Montreal, Alexis comes out of his coma and returns to the village. Donalda wants to be a good wife for Séraphin and suggests they should start a family, but Doctor Cyprien fears for her life.
Séraphin and Arthur join forces to rescue Alexis and Donalda from the accusations of murdering young Siffleux's prison warder. Father Labelle works out a plan to bring his railway project to fruition, Arthur thinks it's too risky and disapproves.
Once in Montreal, Youville, Nanette's sister, is of no help at all. She does however reveal to Donalda that her running away isn't just about an argument with Bidou, but a much darker story involving her husband's land.
Fear reigns in Sainte-Adèle when the Amerindians come to threaten Father Labelle to take back the land stolen illegally from them by Bidou. Curfew and regular guard duties are imposed on the village. Reluctantly, Séraphin and Alexis agree to work together to rescue the prisoners.
Séraphin learns that American Paper is about to spread misery in the North. He decides to do everything possible to turn over a new leaf and atone for his past misdeeds.
Quebec is in a crisis: there's a shortage of wood for heating. In Montreal, hundreds of children are dying of cold. But the Laurentides are overflowing with timber, Father Labelle profits from the opportunity to show the real importance of the resources available in the North.
Bishop Fabre and Séraphin profit from the priest's weakness to ruin his reputation by taking away his diocese and his position as a deputy minister. But are they really capable of tarnishing the reputation of the best-loved man in the Laurentides?
