A small fishing village on England's North Eastern coast is home to the Reverend Matthew Irvine and his family; the tutor Philip Hayward who assisted at their poor school; Reginald Trevor, the squire, his beautiful heartless daughter Isabel, and her sweet penniless cousin Hilda Marston whose brother Ned attended the Reverend's school. Into their quiet lives the ocean brought the body of a foreign-looking woman adorned with rich rings. Days later, Sir George Hamilton appears, as Hayward rescued from his sunken yacht at Isabel's bidding. Isabel is determined to marry Sir George for his wealth. The squire proposes to Hilda but she does not love him. Sir George assists Hayward in return for saving his life. Sir George becomes engaged to Isabel. Hayward is heart-broken and flees to work in London. Hilda marries the local clergyman. Disaster and unhappiness follow in the form of divorce, suicide, a Spanish heir and typhus. (PB)
