Louise Legrand is the wilful 18-year-old daughter of Madeline and her first husband. Her second husband, Oscar Swain, is bedridden and unable to provide for them as hoped. So when Madeline's first mother-in-law offers to pay for Louise to have art lessons it seems a God send. But then Louise falls in love with Daniel, the middle-aged art teacher and they elope to America, and no-one realises that train of events will lead to tragedy. Will the family ties be strong enough to survive the outcome?