Shortly after a wealthy Englishman, Maurice Trent, marries an American named Stella Houghton, his legs are paralyzed in an airplane accident. Although he realizes that Maurice will never walk again, his physician, Dr. Harvester, tells the injured man that he will operate in five months, leading Maurice to believe that he will recover. On the suggestion of his neighbor, Major Liconda, Maurice sends for his brother Colin, who is a successful coffee grower in Brazil. Colin becomes Stella's evening escort, and eventually the two fall in love. They talk about leaving together for Brazil, but Stella later tells Colin that she cannot leave Maurice, who now realizes that Dr. Harvester has lied about his recovery. The next morning, Maurice's private nurse, Wayland, discovers her patient's dead body. Although Dr. Harvester believes Maurice's death was caused by an embolism, Wayland accuses Stella of murdering her husband so that she can leave with Colin. Mrs. Trent, aware of Stella and Colin's relationship, recalls that she was the last to see Maurice earlier that morning. At that time, she reveals, she watched him swallow a fatal dose of sleeping pills. Wayland apologizes to Stella, and when Stella decides to return with Colin to his plantation, Mrs. Trent embraces the couple, telling them that this is what Maurice had wished.