Remove special variable $(sys.workdir) as it's not pertinent to the example.  Change /home/mark/tmp to simpler /tmp.  Comment the example.
{
 files:

-  "/home/mark/tmp/test_plain"
+  "/tmp/profile"   # /tmp/profile is the copy destination

-    copy_from => local_cp("$(sys.workdir)/bin/file");
+      comment => "/tmp/profile promises to be a copy of /etc/profile to
demo
+    copy_from => local_cp("/etc/profile");  # /etc/profile is the copy
sourc

-  "/home/mark/tmp/test_remote_plain"
+  "/tmp/profile2"

-    copy_from => secure_cp("$(sys.workdir)/bin/file","serverhost");
+      comment => "Demonstrate remote file copying.  /tmp/profile2
promises t
+    copy_from =>
secure_cp("/repo/config-files/profile","serverhost.example.
 }
-
-