In the small town of Marysville, young people spend hot Saturday nights at Willow Springs, a lakeside dance hall. Romer Sheffield, a wealthy city man who has a summer home on the lake, becomes infatuated with Ruth Brock, who works at the town bank owned by Mr. Ed. W. Randolph. In order to get closer to Ruth, Romer hosts a party for her friends on Saturday evening, July 23rd. Although Ruth arrives at the party with Connie Billop, she spends a few innocent hours alone with Romer, then returns to find that everyone has left for Willow Springs and joins them with Connie. When Ruth and Connie go for a boat ride, she refuses to neck with him, and he leaves her stranded on the beach. Walking through the woods, Ruth finds Romer's house and spends a few more innocent hours with him. When jealous Eva Randolph, the banker's daughter, sees Ruth arriving home in Romer's car, she starts a rumor that Ruth spent the night with Romer. Sneaking through the house, Ruth finds Bill Fadden, a childhood friend, in her kitchen. Bill is about to leave to conduct a geological survey in nearby Indian Cave. Over the weekend, a scandal builds, which ruins Ruth's reputation, and on Monday morning, Mr. Randolph fires her, calling her an immoral woman. Although her father defends her, Ruth's mother believes the gossip and is more worried about the family's loss of income than Ruth's feelings. Ruth runs away in a rain storm to Bill's camp, where they make plans to marry. While the gang celebrates at Willow Springs, Romer, whom Eva invited, asks Ruth to dance, but leaves graciously when he learns she is to be married. Bill, meanwhile, overhears Connie talking about the scandal and is furious that Ruth neglected to tell him about Romer. Realizing Bill does not trust her, Ruth leaves with Romer. The next morning she arrives home and breaks her engagement with Bill, admitting she finally did spend the night with Romer. As Ruth and Romer leave for New York, he promises to marry her.