Warren Johnson, a devout former teacher, retreated to a desolate farm to mortify himself after killer his wife Milded's assailant, ruling his home and young sons with an iron rod. They take in orphaned cousin Elizabeth 'Lilly' Wright. She falls in love with Clive Bartlets, who plans to build a dam which would inundate the already unprofitable Johnson farm. Clive's investor, banker Graham Parker, falls in unrequited love with Lilly. When they all learn about these conflicting interests, further drama ensues.