Markum, a mortal, and his wife, ran a small grocery store in downtown Seacouver. When the local crime boss demanded half his store in payment of a loan, and said he was Markum's partner, Markum told him to go to hell. As a result, a gunman, Paul Kinman, was dispatched to deal with him, who although partially thwarted by a passing Duncan MacLeod and Richie Ryan, managed to get off a a half a dozen shots, one of which killed Markum's wife, Alice.