In the gambling-mad salons of mid-18th century London no one is much surprised when the elegant Earl of Astbury wins Elyssa Fontwell during a game of cards. The Earl is horrified at winning plain, ailing Elyssa, and he immediately dispatches her to the country in the hope the damp will make a speedy end of her. However, Elyssa grows stronger and, stung by Lord Astbury's rejections of her, responds to Sir Courteney Hartington's flirting, unaware that he has sinister designs on her.