Kate Bosworth (Bette Davis) is a sincere, demure, artist who misses her boat to an island off New England, where she intends to meet her twin sister Patricia (also Bette Davis) and her cousin Freddie (Charlie Ruggles). She persuades Bill Emerson (Glenn Ford) to take her home in his boat. Later, their relationship grows while she paints a portrait of Eben Folger (Walter Brennan), the old lighthouse keeper, and Kate is very much in love.