Cora Sutton, bullied by her mother-in-law, Joan Dawson, for being childless. Learning of her scheme to 'borrow a womb,' she flees, enters Aidan Clay's cabin, where they unite. Cora gets pregnant by another man, divorces her husband. Aidan Clay, a village tyrant, shows his tender side only to her. They go from scheming to genuine love, fighting feudal etiquette. Villains are imprisoned, and the lovers get their happy ending.