William Ashe is an upper-class statesman who falls in love with Kitty Bristol, who comes from an unpromising background and is wildly impulsive. Despite the difference between them, the couple gets married. And the troubles begin. Kitty becomes insanely jealous when Mary, an old flame of Ashe's decides to marry Geoffrey Cliffe, a hanger-on interested in Mary's money and a man whom Kitty herself has had a perverse interest in. Kitty starts flirting with Cliffe and breaks up his relationship with Mary. Later, Mary returns the favor to Kitty, by insinuating to Ashe that Kitty and Cliffe have run off together. This brings ruin to Ashe's political ambitions, and Kitty, who is repentant, becomes ill and dies. In this novel all Ward's strengths as a novelist are shown - strong dialogue, dramatic situations, concern for important social and religious issues of the day.