The Trail of the Axe is an action-packed and suspenseful novel that tells the story of Dave, a lumber mill owner in western Canada, and his relationships with those around him. Dave is a trusting soul, but he soon learns that not everyone is who they seem to be. When Jim Truscott, the man Betty has promised to marry, returns from a gold-seeking expedition in the Yukon, he is a changed man. Dave is suspicious of Truscott's personality alterations, and Betty must decide whether or not to hold herself to her promise. Dave must also determine whether or not he should keep the promise he made to his friend.