The only person that Vanessa wants to marry is Benjamin and they are finally engaged. When a fire sweeps through her fathers house, Benjie is able to save Vanessa, but he cannot save her already dead father. Since Vanessa blames him in her fathers death, they separate and Benjie marries Marion, the barmaid. After realizing that she was mistaken, Vanessa finds that he is married and she then reluctantly accepts the proposal of Ellis. However, Ellis is slowly going insane and Vanessa is not told. With her married life becoming intolerable, she tries to leave Ellis, but she cannot divorce him as long as he is insane.