The McFarishes and the Macraes are lifelong enemies living on a remote island in the Western Isles of Scotland. Mary Lawson is a Scottish orphan brought up in a convent who arrives on the weekly steamer to come and work as a servant to the Macraes. Mary is warned that she must have no dealings with the McFarish family but living a lonely life she encourages the friendship of Will McFarish, with tragic consequences.