Lawrence Vane, at the height of a brilliant concert career, loses her sight and has nothing left in her life whatsoever. Having previously passed up marriage for her Steinway, Lawrence now decides that only in marriage will there be some meaning in her life, and goes out to the East to the island of Tahang to marry Paul Carron, with whom she has corresponded but whom she has never seen. Paul is half Indian and very dark, but has not the courage to admit this to her. Jealous, possessive and afraid, he keeps her away from almost all other contacts, preserves his deception, until an operation gives Lawrence the opportunity to see again.