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.