In northern England around 1900, the worker John O'Brien lives near poverty in a small house in the worker's district. He falls in love with Mary, the teacher of his highly intelligent younger sister Kathy and daughter of a rich family. Their love is doomed by the social difference, but the vigorous Mary refuses to allow outer circumstances destroying their love.
Inquisitive teenage orphan James is invited to stay at his uncle's country mansion. He explores the property and discovers the house holds many mysterious secrets.