Then Basil the blacksmith calls upon them all to resist and is promptly felled by a soldier. All is angry commotion when the door of the chancel opens and Father Felician, whom all revere, stands before them commanding their silence. He appeals to their faith, and their reverence for the house of God, and by his wise counsel succeeds in quieting his people. Meanwhile the women wait outside in the churchyard, fearful when the tumult is greatest but reassured when all is quiet again. Hour after hour passes by and still they wait.
At length the door of the meetinghouse opens and a soldier appears. Again the fearful proclamation is read. Then the women are commanded to pack their household goods and be ready for sailing on the fifth day.
Now indeed a great cry of distress arises, echoed by the men, who are still held prisoners. Then, in obedience to a second command, the women depart for their homes. With heavy hearts they begin their packing. Evangeline, left alone without father or lover, looks at the table set for the wedding feast and at all the signs of rejoicing, then softly goes back to the meetinghouse. There she calls Gabriel by name several times but receives no answer.
On the fifth day all is ready. The great wains empty their loads on the shore, and the women and children are waiting. At last, at a signal, the church door is thrown open and the prisoners march to the boats. Then comes the most terrible part of all. In their haste the soldiers separate families, placing some members in one ship, some in another.
Gabriel and his father are placed in different ships, while Evangeline and her father remain on the shore awaiting the last boat. And then comes the fearful sight of their homes and barns in flames, and the utter destruction of the village.
The horror and injustice of it all are too great for Evangeline’s father, who dies there upon the shore. Evangeline, left thus alone and crushed by her sorrow, scarce knows when she is led into the ship or when the ships depart.
Many days pass before the people are landed on a foreign shore. Then the first thought of all is to seek relatives and friends.
The rest of the story tells of Evangeline’s long search for Gabriel and her many discouragements as she follows this rumor and that. The priest, Father Felician, goes with her on the journey, encouraging and helping her.
Once Gabriel and Evangeline pass each other on the water, but it is during the night and neither is aware that the other is so near. Gabriel finds his father but, restless and unhappy, he does not remain with him long. And so it happens that when Evangeline at length finds Basil the blacksmith, Gabriel is not with him. He had left just the day before. So Basil sets out with Evangeline in search of his son.
After years of patience and perseverance, rewarded only by failure, Evangeline ceases her wandering and becomes a nurse. And then it is she finds Gabriel, on his deathbed.