Victoria Winters travels to Collinsport by train from New York to be the governess of 10 year old David Collins. Also on that train is Burke Devlin, who seems rather mysterious. We get to see Elizabeth Collins Stoddard and Roger Collins argue over if it was wise to hire Victoria. Victoria and Burke go to the hotel where she can wait for a cab. He seems rather disturbed about the place. He leaves and goes to a local hangout called the Blue Whale, where he meets an investigator he has hired. Victoria meets Maggie Evans, who tells her she is a jerk for accepting the job. Even after all the things that has been said to her, she goes to Collinwood and is invited in by Elizabeth.

At the Collinwood mansion, Victoria meets with the reclusive matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, while Burke Devlin talks with a private detective at the local Blue Whale tavern.

Elizabeth's brother, Roger Collins, desperately searches for local artist Sam Evans. Meanwhile, Victoria meets Elizabeth's teenage daughter Carolyn and begins to wonder if Collinwood is haunted.

Victoria is interrogated by Roger over her knowledge of Burke Devlin and their encounter at the train station. Later that night, Victoria has an unpleasant first meeting with David Collins

After her first night at Collinwood, Victoria has decided to go back to New York. Victoria explains to Carolyn that she is an orphan and came to Collinsport because she believed that somehow she would find out about her past. Near Widow’s Hill, Victoria meets Sam Evans who tells Victoria about Josette Collins. Victoria finds out from Sam that Elizabeth has not left Collinwood in eighteen years. Sam instructs Victoria to tell Roger that he wants to talk with him. Victoria returns to her room to find that David has helped her “pack” while she was out. Victoria changes her mind and decides to stay at Collinwood with renewed hopes that she will find out something about her past.

Victoria looks for David in the basement of Collinwood. While looking, a stranger enters the room and asks who she is. He accuses her of snooping around. Elizabeth comes down and says it's Matthew Morgan, the caretaker of Collinwood. She asks Victoria why she is in the basement, and when Victoria tells her that she is down there looking for David, Elizabeth tells her David would not come down there. Once she leaves, Elizabeth finds David hiding in the basement. Later, Victoria sees Matthew again, stoking the fireplace. She says she hopes they can one day be friends, and she starts asking him questions. She finds out that Elizabeth fired all of her servents 18 years ago and then hired Matthew, giving him a cottage on the edge of Collinwood grounds. In the basement, Elizabeth gets out a crate of adventure books that had belonged to Roger when he was a boy. David does not want anything associated with his father. Carolyn tells Victoria that she should ask Elizabeth about what happened 18

Sam Evans and Roger discuss Burke Devlin's return. Sam agrees with Roger's fear that Burke is planning revenge against the Collins family for his jail sentence, but refuses to offer any help.

Carolyn's flighty romance with Joe Haskell takes a new turn when she admits that she is in love with him, but refuses an offer of marriage. Victoria investigates Elizabeth's claims about her job offer.

Victoria learns of the tragic legend of Widows Hill, a cliff located close to Collinwood, where many suicides occurred. Meanwhile, Carolyn is intrigued by Burke and decides to learn more.

Roger puts pressure on Elizabeth to send David away to boarding school, a conversation the boy overhears. Burke gives Carolyn false information on the reason for his return.

Burke Devlin pays the residents of Collinwood a visit, apparently hoping to reassure Elizabeth that he has no vendetta to pursue against her family. He does, however, ask if Collinwood is for sale.

Roger encounter Victoria on Widows' Hill and tells her the story of its legend and history. Meanwhile, Maggie Evans tries to learn what is troubling her father, Sam.

Elizabeth and Roger continue to harbour suspicions about Burke, in spite of him offering the hand of friendship. As Victoria walks to Matthew's cottage, she notices Burke examining Roger's car.

Victoria learns about David's relationship with Roger. Burke arranges to meet with Roger at the Blue Whale, and spends time talking with Joe and Carolyn, at her request.

David is now convinced that his father hates him. Roger leaves the estate in his car to meet with Burke. On the way, he loses control of the car and crashes.

Roger emerges from the accident without serious injury, but is shaken by the experience. Meanwhile, Elizabeth is appalled to learn of Carolyn's flirtation with Burke.

Elizabeth comforts David after he has a nightmare about Roger's car accident. Collins family employee and retainer Bill Malloy begins to suspect that Roger was the victim of foul play.

Learning Victoria saw Burke by his car, Roger takes her to Burke's room at the hotel to make a confrontation. Meanwhile, David harbours the bleeder valve taken from Roger's car.

Elizabeth continues to insist that Carolyn should not visit Burke again, adamant that he is attempting to destroy the Collins family. Bill Malloy attempts to learn more about Burke's motives.

Roger confronts Burke, accusing him outright of causing the accident and attempting to kill him. Victoria, however, is unimpressed by Roger's assumption of foul play on Burke's part.

Roger presses Elizabeth for an explanation of her reasons for hiring Victoria, which she refuses to give. Meanwhile, Victoria is shocked to discover the missing bleeder valve in her room.

The police obtain a warrant to search Burke's room, believing him to be a suspect. When Victoria attempts to retrieve the bleeder valve, she discovers that it has been taken.

Burke meets with his private investigator Stuart Bronson, who provides him with a complete breakdown of the Collins family finances., as he begins to make plans.

Roger learns from Maggie that David has been seen trying to get into Burke's room at the hotel. As the police investigations near a conclusion, Burke and Roger's animosity increases rapidly.

Burke tells Victoria that he has asked his private investigator to research her past, and has received a report. However, it reveals nothing new. Joe and Carolyn reflect on their relationship.

Growing uneasy about the prospect of painting Burke's portrait, Sam tries to abandon the project. Meanwhile, Carolyn is jealous to learn of the developing relationship between Victoria and Burke.

A furious Roger demands that Sam does not paint Burke's portrait. Elizabeth begs Elizabeth to stay at Collinwood, and later confers with David in an attempt to find a solution.

Worried at the escalating feud with Roger, Sam entrusts Maggie with a sealed letter. Roger confides in Victoria that he too has heard the mysterious sobbing sounds coming from the basement.

Matthew Morgan threatens to kill Burke, for his interference in the affairs of the Collins family. Meanwhile, Carolyn courts the attentions of Burke by leaving her ring for him to find.

A wily Carolyn continues to pursue Burke, following him on a business trip to the nearby town of Bangor. Meanwhile, Sam makes a devastating admission to Bill Malloy.

Elizabeth learns from John Harris of Burke's plans to aggressively take over the Collins family businesses. Meanwhile, Malloy fears that Roger is in danger unless drastic steps are taken.

Roger reprimands Carolyn for associating with Burke. Bill Malloy arranges a meeting between Roger, Sam and Burke, intent on proving Roger's guilt and ending Burke's vendetta.

In spite of extreme reluctance on the part of Roger, Bill Malloy demands that the meeting will go ahead as planned, to take place at 11pm at Roger's office at the cannery.

Roger arrives for the meeting with Sam and Burke, and shares an uneasy hour waiting for Bill to arrive. However, after he fails to appear after an hour, the meeting is reluctantly abandoned.

David receives a crystal ball as a gift from Burke. Upon staring into it, the boy announces that Bill's disappearance is because he has been murdered by Roger.

Elizabeth struggles to come to terms with the fact that Bill may have been murdered. The sheriff questions Matthew, while Burke begins to form suspicions about Roger's possible involvement.

The sheriff questions Roger about his whereabouts at the time of Bill's disappearance. Roger insists he had no idea what the meeting was about, but Elizabeth accuses him of lying.

Roger places pressure on Sam to keep his silence, insisting that they must keep to their alibis. Meanwhile, Elizabeth and Carolyn are devastated by Bill's death.

Burke is adamant that he will find the person behind Bill's death and asks Victoria for information on Roger. The sheriff reveals that Bill's watch stopped when he fell, confirming the time of his death.

David begins to study tidal charts, intent on discovering where Bill fell into the water. Meanwhile, the sheriff questions Sam as the investigation continues.

The sheriff questions Roger about the murder, and Elizabeth lies to offer her brother an alibi. A suspicious David later eavesdrops as Roger makes a false confession to Elizabeth.

Victoria visits Maggie and Sam to have dinner and get to know them better. Looking through Sam's paintings, she is surprised to discover a portrait that closely resembles her.

Burke journeys to Collinwood, now intent on settling his vendetta against the Collins family. Roger and Sam exchange threats as they discuss their affairs at the Blue Whale.

Burke continues to assemble proof of Roger's guilt. When Burke presses Victoria for answers, she is forced to admit that she is not sure of the exact time Roger departed for the meeting.

Bill Malloy's housekeeper, Mrs Sarah Johnson, makes her presence felt as the murder investigation continues. Meanwhile, Burke confides in Carolyn that he was wrongly convicted for Roger's crime.

David confides in Victoria that Burke was the cause of many fights between his estranged mother and Roger. With ulterior motives, Roger tries to gain Victoria's confidence and friendship.

Burke takes active steps to prove that Roger was responsible for Malloy's murder and arranges a meeting with Mrs Johnson, who is persuaded to spy on his behalf by gaining employment at Collinwood.

David tells Victoria about the Old House, an abandoned Collins' mansion built before Collinwood, and suggests that they pay a visit. When they later leave, they are followed by the ghostly form of Josette.

Burke visits Collinwood and tells Elizabeth that he now plans to agressively take away Collinwood and the entire Collins business portfolio. Elizabeth vows to fight him to the end.

David finds himself increasingly torn between his loyalties to his aunt Elizabeth and his growing friendship with Burke. Carolyn and David argue over the situation with Burke.

Maggie and Joe spend an evening together at the Blue Whale and quickly begin to develop an enjoyment in one another's company. A belligerent Roger argues with both Sam and Joe.

Mrs Johnson publicly accuses Burke of causing Bill Malloy's death, to deflect any suspicion her newfound loyalty to the Collins family might bring. Burke and David renew their friendship.

Roger is terrified to learn that Victoria has found the fountain pen he lost on the night of Malloy's death and fears that she may now suspect him of foul play.

Roger is suspicious about Victoria's disappearance and decides to investigate the closed-off wing of the house. He releases Victoria and is shocked to hear her claim that she was visited by a ghost.

Victoria tells Elizabeth about her ordeal and that she saw Bill's ghost. Elizabeth and Roger decide to check the locked room and are shocked to discover wet seaweed on the floor.

Burke puts his takeover plan into action, offering four of Elizabeth's top executives jobs with him for increased pay. Learning of his plans, Elizabeth realises the severity of his threats.

Learning that Victoria has seen a ghost, David has newfound appreciation for her and begs her to stay. Victoria finds a potential clue to her identity hidden in Collinwood.

Roger drives Victoria back to Collinsport, but heavy rain forces them to take shelter until the storm passes. Victoria is shocked by Roger's demand that she should keep her discovery about Burke a secret.

Victoria receives a frosty reception from Elizabeth for visiting the family lawyers without her consent. Sam gives Victoria the portrait of Betty Handscomb which she so closely resembles.

Mrs Johnson begins working at Collinwood, quickly beginning her covert investigations. She is disturbed to hear a mysterious sobbing sound coming from a locked room in the basement.

Mrs Johnson begins to believe that Collinwood is haunted and confides her fears to Burke. Meanwhile, the takeover plans for the cannery are abruptly ended when the company executives reject Burke's offer.

Victoria tells Burke about her suspicions regarding Roger and the pen she found on Lookout Point. Meanwhile, Carolyn reveals to Roger that Victoria knows about the pen's origins.

Roger is held in custody as Sheriff Patterson questions Victoria. Roger gives his alibi for the accident, which seems to prove his innocence. Carolyn is shocked to learn that Roger may have killed Malloy.

Attentions turn to Sam as the hunt for the mysterious driver continues. Outside the Old House searching for David, Victoria narrowly escapes death when Matthew pushes a stone urn from the roof.

Scared from her close call, Victoria unwittingly runs to Matthew's cottage for help. As they talk, she realises that he was the driver. Matthew refuses to let Victoria leave.

Matthew reveals that he killed Malloy, but that it was an accident, and vows to kill Victoria to maintain his secret. The police are called to search for Victoria, while Elizabeth pays a crucial visit on Matthew.

David still believes that Roger killed Malloy. Later, David visits the Old House and chances upon Matthew. When the boy offers to help, Matthew has no choice but to accept, if he is to remain hidden.

As Matthew holds Victoria captive, the Collins household thinks that she left for her trip as planned. Elizabeth worries when Frank calls her to say that Victoria has not arrived. Victoria makes a bid to escape.

Elizabeth worries about Victoria's safety. Joe learns the truth about Carolyn and Burke's relationship and the two men come to blows. The discovery of Victoria's luggage proves that she never left for her trip.

Victoria's disappearance becomes a police matter. When Joe and Burke search for Victoria at the Old House, Matthew and his prisoner hide in a secret room. Victoria manages to call for help, but to no avail.

As the search continues, Burke and Roger exchange threats. Caroyln's relationship with Burke comes under fire. Elizabeth vows to face Burke's latest assault head on. Carolyn and Joe end their relationship.

Victoria begs Matthew to let her go. Mrs Johnson suspects Victoria has fallen foul of Matthew. When David visits the Old House with supplies, he is disarmed to hear Victoria's cries coming from the secret room.

Matthew begins to doubt David's loyalty. David is overcome with pangs of conscience for helping Matthew evade capture, which are heightened when he learns the consequences of aiding a criminal.

Roger and Burke find and rescue Victoria from the Old House. The ghosts of Bill Malloy and Josette lead a procession of spirits to wreak revenge on Matthew, scaring him to death.

Victoria and Frank continue to be concerned by Laura's influence on David and agree that, despite Burke's advice, that the boy should be kept away from her at all costs.

Elizabeth regains consciousness, but has no memory of how she fell unconscious. Later, she is visited by a cloaked figure and reacts in terror, talking incoherently about fire.

Investigating the crypt at the Eagle Hill Cemetery, Victoria and Frank are intrigued to discover that the remains of two of Laura's ancestors are buried there, both of whom died of fire 100 years apart.

Elizabeth's condition continues defy any logical diagnosis. Laura pays Elizabeth a visit, leaving her deeply distressed. Laura uses dark powers to place Elizabeth into a coma.

Laura makes a desperate final bid for David's acceptance as she is consumed by supernatural flames. Meanwhile, Elizabeth begins to recover and Victoria battles to save the life of David.

Everyone at Collinwood now believes that Will will soon be leaving town. Meanwhile, Willie Loomis attempts to open the tomb of Naomi Collins, hoping to find some of her jewlery buried with her. He finds a secret room. Inside it, he finds a coffin. Thinking that there might be jewels inside it, he opens the coffin. A hand comes out of the coffin and grabs his throat.

Jason drags Willie back to Collinwood to apologize and then leave. Willie passes out after looking at the portrait of Barnabas. Jason convinces Elizabeth that Willie is sick and let him stay at Collinwood until he is better. Jason discovers a wound on Willie's wrist.

After searching for Willie, Jason leaves the cemetery, and Barnabas emerges. Barnabas asks Elizabeth if he can move into the Old House, she says she will have to think about it. Barnabas meets Jason who remarks on the resemblance to the portrait. Roger encourages Elizabeth to let Barnabas move into the Old House. Barnabas goes to the Collins Mausoleum after leaving Collinwood.

Willie, weak after being out all night, returns to Collinwood. Jason believes Willie has been out grave robbing. Roger attempts to kick out Willie but is too weak to go. The sheriff tells Roger that animals are being "drained" of blood. Dr. Woodard finds that Willie is suffering from a massive loss of blood.

Maggie is disturbed by the dream she had; Joe takes her to the Blue Whale. Later Sam and Barnabas show up, Maggie tries to avoid Barnabas. Burke shows up and meets Barnabas. When Maggie leaves Barnabas wishes her "sweet dreams". After Maggie goes to sleep Barnabas creeps into her room.

Maggie is edgy and tired after last night, although she is weak she insists on going to work. In the coffee shop Maggie passes out. As night falls, Maggie starts to feel better. Sam works on Barnabas' portrait; later Barnabas steps out for some "air" to visit Maggie.

Jason manages to get Elizabeth to give him a job at the Collins cannery. As a result everyone wonders what hold Jason has over Elizabeth. Carolyn finds out that Paul Stoddard's belongings are stored in the locked room in the basement and becomes determined to find the key.

Maggie becomes increasing sick; Sam calls the doctor despite Maggie's protests. Victoria tells Burke that Jason is now working for the Collins cannery. Dr. Woodard tells Sam and Joe that Maggie is suffering from a loss of blood. Following sunset Maggie kicks Joe out, who was looking after her. Victoria notices that Maggie's symptoms are the same as Willie's were. Sam finds Maggie has disappeared.

Following Maggie's disappearance everyone searches for her. Willie finds out from Victoria that Maggie has disappeared; Later Willie (anonymously) tells Victoria that Maggie can be found at the graveyard on Eagle Hill. Maggie meets Barnabas, however he and Willie are forced to leave her behind when Burke and Victoria arrive and find Maggie. Barnabas and Willie hide in the secret room in the Collins Mausoleum. Barnabas beats Willie for betraying him. After getting Maggie home everyone discovers the fang marks on her neck.

Maggie is missing, Dr. Woodard thinks she may be dead. Burke and Joe go to the Old House to question Willie, however he is not there and Barnabas vouches for his whereabouts. After they leave Maggie comes out of an adjoining room. Barnabas gives Maggie Josette's music box and tells her she will be Josette.

The sheriff questions Willie about the night someone called to report that Maggie was seen at Eagle Hill Cemetery. The sheriff suspects the strange things happening in Collinsport are somehow related to Willie. Jason questions Willie, he is afraid Willie is attracting too much attention; Jason warns Willie to leave town.

Victoria and Carolyn visit the Old House to see the restoration work Willie and Barnabas have done. Willie tries to get them to leave. Barnabas plans to have dinner with Josette(Maggie).

Barnabas dines with Maggie(aka Josette). Sam goes to the Old House to tell Barnabas that he cannot work on the portrait while his daughter is missing. Maggie overhears her father and Joe downstairs, she cries out and attempts to get away.

David sneaks down to the Old House to search for Josette, Barnabas catches and tells him that he should not trespass. Roger tells Barnabas that Dr. Woodard has some blood samples from Maggie that might be of some help finding her. David sneaks back to Old House and sees Maggie(but thinks she is Josette).

Elizabeth starts divorce proceeding against Paul Stoddard so she can marry Jason. Carolyn becomes determined to get into the locked room in the basement to see what Jason has on her mother. Elizabeth will not give Carolyn the key, but Jason agrees to help her get it.

Sam goes to the Old House to work on portrait of Barnabas, however Willie tells Sam to take the portrait with him. Sam leaves behind his pipe and Maggie finds it. Later Maggie sneaks away and Sam sees her through the window of his cottage while working.

Barnabas finds Maggie and punishes her for escaping by putting her in his coffin. The sheriff searches for Maggie however they start to believe that Sam must have only seen her in his imagination. Willie let Maggie out of the coffin and locks her in Josette's room.

Barnabas plans to make Maggie his bride, she pretends to be Josette. Maggie finds that Willie has made coffin intended for her. Maggie tries to stake Barnabas, but he rises from his coffin before she has the chance.

Elizabeth engages Jason to prevent Carolyn from going ahead with her plan to marry Buzz, but his bribe is met with disinterest. Carolyn is now convinced she can prevent Elizabeth marrying.

Jason gives Carolyn an ultimatum to leave Collinwood. At her wedding, Elizabeth breaks down and reveals to the shocked congregation that she killed Paul Stoddard with Jason as her accomplice.

Julia wants to stop the experiments on Barnabas. Barnabas convinces her to continue. Burke starts to prepare to go on the trip to South America. Julia tries to convince Burke to postpone the trip because she says Vicki is frail, but in reality it's because Barnabas will try to get Vicki to fall in love with him. Victoria tells Burke that Julia seems to be frailer then her. Julia is very upset about the death of Dr.Woodard. She sees his ghost by the fountain at Collinwood. She starts new expieriments on Barnabas.

Barnabas issues Carolyn with instructions to retrieve Julia's notebook. Meanwhile, he uses an ancient incantation to vengefully make the ghost of Woodard appear to a guilt-stricken Julia.

Carolyn gains Tony's affections as part of Barnabas' plan. Julia is terrified to be confronted by Woodard's ghost, while Barnabas contrives to convince her that it is a result of her conscience.

Julia continues to be concerned that her notebook will fall into the wrong hands. Julia later makes contact with Sarah, who refuses to help her because of her involvement in Woodard's murder.

Julia finds herself tormented by a nightmarish sequence of events conjured up by Barnabas, culminating in a telephone call from the ghost of Woodard. Terrified, she suddenly sees the door begin to open

Barnabas' choking brings him close to death. Fearing that she may have gone too far, Angelique releases Barnabas from her spell, but she is still determined to keep him from marrying Josette.

Angelique immediately casts a new spell over Josette and Jeremiah after she learns that certain members of the family are trying to expedite their wedding. Yielding to the power of that spell, Josette leaves Barnabas ""standing at the altar.""

Barnabas bribes one of the servents and enters the New House at Collinwood to interogate Ben. Ben says he doesn't know who the witch is. Ben gets frustrated and hits Barnabas over the head with a bottle. Ben escapes Collinwood. Barnabas is found by a servent and Joshua tells him to leave. Barnabas finds out that Victoria has been jailed after Reverand Trask turned her in. He now believes that Angelique is most likely the witch. Barnabas finds where Ben is hiding and finds out that Ben can not tell Barnabas who is the witch because he can not speak her name in that fashion. Barnabas tells her about how Victoria will be killed for witchcraft. Barnabas then tells Ben to write the first letter of the name of the witch. Ben makes a 'V'...Barnabas says ""V for Victoria"". Ben then makes a mark in the V which makes it an A. Barnabas then says, ""A....for Angelique""

Angelique tells Josette and Natalie that Barnabas has the plague. They ask if he has seen a doctor, and she quickly responds that he hasn't. When asked why, Angelique says that she is afraid that they will take Barnabas away from her and isolate her from everyone. Natalie has a doctor come. He is not sure about it, but agrees that it is most likely the plague due to the marks on Barnabas' neck, which the doctor thinks was caused by an infected rat. At first the doctor wants to have him removed, but Natalie talks him out of it. Josette visits Victoria in jail. Josette pleads with her to cure Barnabas. Victoria again and again tells her that she is not the witch. Victoria tells Josette to leave Collinsport for her safety. Josette does not understand, and Victoria tells her to look in the Collins Family History book that Victoria had brought with her from the past. Josette and Natalie search Victoria's room. They find it. Josette finds her portrait and an entry on her saying that she died

Chris visits Amy, his troubled young sister, and the two bond. Mr Wells, the manager of the Collinsport Inn, falls foul of a vicious animal. Nicholas performs the black mass that will unite him and Maggie.

Barnabas and Julia find Carolyn in the mausoleum, she warns them to leave (again). Carolyn speaks to the Sheriff; later the Sheriff warns Julia and Barnabas to leave town. Julia is almost killed by a falling statue, and strange ghostly man can be seen staring out the window of Collinwood.

Samantha chooses Gerard. Quentin tries to stop Samantha from taking Tad, she tells Quentin that Tad is not his son. Samantha makes plans to secretly leave Collinwood with Tad; Gabriel overhears this and reports it to Quentin. Hortense, the Collins governess, is attacked by Judah’s body in the woods.