Orphaned at a young age, Melody Craven grew up depending on the charity of kindly relatives and consequently learned to be content to be treated as second best to her pretty cousin Mary. But when both girls fall in love with the same handsome young officer Roger Hallet - who is briefly on leave in England from serving in the British army in India - it looks as though the girls' friendship might be ruined by rivalry. However, events take an usual turn and Melody soon finds herself traveling to India to find her longed-for love. Upon arriving she finds both an India torn by religious controversy, political unrest, and an armed rebellion, as well as the compellingly attractive but mysterious Captain Adam Channing.