NancyLeeisawell-bredmemberoftheVirginiaaristocracy.Herfatherforbidshermarriagetothemanshelovesforreasonsofsocialinequality.Sheconsentstomarryawealthymanonhersocialplaneinordertohelpherfamilyoutofdifficulty,butheeventuallyleavesheradesolatewidowinNewYork.Hereffortstoextricateherselffromthisdilemmafurthersubjecthertoshame,anddisasterloomsunlesstheyoungmanshelovedcansaveher.