The Portent: A Story of the Inner Vision of the Highlanders, Commonly Called “The Second Sight”

The story is set in the Scottish Highlands and revolves around the traditional belief in “the Second Sight,” a supposed supernatural ability to perceive future events or hidden spiritual truths. MacDonald uses this idea not just as folklore, but as a way to explore deeper questions about perception, destiny, and spiritual awareness. At the center of the narrative is a haunting “portent” (an omen or vision) that reveals a tragic fate tied to a Highland family. The characters are caught between ordinary reality and unsettling visions that seem to predict or reflect moral and spiritual consequences beyond human control.