The novel is a poignant coming-of-age novel set in late 19th-century Scotland. It follows the story of Lizzie Craig, an orphan raised by her grandparents on Belhaven Farm, who possesses the gift of second sight - the ability to glimpse the future through vivid "pictures" or visions.

From a young age, Lizzie learns that her visions, while insightful, seldom allow her to change the course of events. As she grows older, her gift becomes both a burden and a source of wisdom, complicating her relationships and choices.

When Lizzie's older sister Kate arrives at Belhaven, their bond deepens over Lizzie's visions. However, Lizzie's life takes an unexpected turn when a seasonal worker named Louis begins courting her. Naive about the depths of intimacy, Lizzie follows Louis to Glasgow, only to face the harsh consequences of an unplanned pregnancy and Louis's wavering devotion.

Forced to make an agonizing decision, Lizzie returns to Belhaven, leaving her newborn daughter Barbara with her grandmother. A fateful vision of a house engulfed in flames compels Lizzie to race back to Glasgow, determined to save her child from a catastrophic fate her visions have foreseen.

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