Author Noel Graham goes to the little village of Mondon where his ancestors lived for solitude to write While searching for a lost puppy Noel meets Rhona Allerton who is visiting her guardian Lewis Moffat a writer in his declining years Realizing that he needs inspiration to write a passionate romance Moffat with the help of old Benson a former derelict now in his service encourages the blossoming love affair between Rhona and Noel while planning to destroy it later and analyze their suffering