He is now in his sixties, and he works for the town's largest merchant and eventually also consul, Gordon Tidemand, the son of Theodor at Bua (known from the books Children of the Age and Segelfoss Town).
August is only referred to by the people of the town as Altmulig 'the Handyman', and his former desire to create development, change, and greatness seems to be gone.
August is now a helper and indispensable handyman, who has apparently found his place under the consul's friendly hand.
He grapples with religious musings and a hopeless infatuation with a young girl from a poor farmhouse.
One day, Pauline, his wandering comrade Edevart's sister from Polden, comes to Segelfoss with a large sum of money, and August's uncontrollable urge to act is reawakened.