Morgan's Acre

Morgan Dalhousie is a respected architect in a small city with all the trappings of middle class success, including an acre of land passed down through the generations to eldest son. With the land came a burden of responsibility tied to a foreboding legend that Morgan would be wise to keep secret. This and his idealistic values result in a mental breakdown and a fall from which he struggles to ascend. During his recovery he is assisted by 'The Chief' an other-worldly being who, though benevolent, has his own agenda to fulfill. Rebecca, his loving wife whose patience is running out due to the prospect of financial ruin brought about by Morgan's idealism, strange behavior and his interest in the lovely Julie next door, is in turmoil trying to hold the family together. All the while, developers and neighbors are scheming to take possession of Morgan's acre. Rebecca's loyalties are challenged and the Chief's interference only makes things more difficult.
Details
The story is set in the historic former town of Port Dalhousie, Ontario in the 1980s. Some of the characters are based on the people who actually lived here at that time. The protagonist shares many characteristics of the author. The most intriguing character is "Chief" based on the eccentric legendary figure "James 'Chief' Smiley (1885-1948) a sharp-shooter on the vaudeville circuit who lived on the shore of Martindale Pond (RC Henley Rowing Course) and died in a fire on St. Patrick's Day. In Morgan's Acre, he returns as a ghost (or perhaps a figment of Morgan's mind) in order to fulfil a an oath that had been circumvented by his premature death. Visible only to Morgan, he enlists the recently deranged and discredited architect to assist him in his deed.
Morgan, as the heir to the family acre of land which comes complete with a mythological and foreboding underpinning, is being pressured to sell the land to developers. He is torn as to what to do and also attempting to regain his status and reputation as a well-respected architect. But these are just two storylines that interweave with others throughout the book. There is the issue of Morgan's relationship with his wife who is confounded by his change in personality following his fall from a tree; this is compounded by his sexual attraction to his voluptuous neighbour, Julie, and his misinterpretation of her benign friendship. Down the street there a nefarious conspiracy is taking place with the couple charged with caring for their ageing uncle. Squire Collins, a neighbour, acts at times as Morgan's mentor assisting him with his interactions with developers and municipal officials, offering him sage advice while attempting to mitigate Morgan's strange behaviour. Morgan also has his own protege in the form of 'Nickless' a young boy with qualities similar to those who adored and gathered around the real 'Chief' during his life. He figures into Morgan's attempt to help fulfil the 'imaginary' Chief's goal of performing one last trick as a sharp-shooter in order to win the hand of the woman he loved in real life forty years earlier.