England's Queen Victoria is dead, and the colorful Edwardian era is in
full swing.
Orphaned Laura Stephens falls in love with William, a restless, young
explorer, but her uncle and aunt have their own ideas about who is a
suitable match for their niece. They favor an army captain on leave
from service in India.
Anti-German feeling is rampant as a result of the heavy loss of life in
the recently ended South African War when the British fought the
German-backed Boers.
Unluckily for Laura, William belongs to a German family, who, with many
other speculators, have settled in the nearby Leem Valley to take
advantage of the economic boom in iron and steel.
The Germans find the top social circle difficult to penetrate, so they
build a mansion in the hunting country near Laura's home. William takes
up residence there as Squire of the Manor of Scorby.
A climax is reached when a mean-spirited housekeeper learns the
captain's deepest secret.