Widowed Deborah Huntworth is elated when her tyrannical great-aunt dies. At last Deborah can pursue her dream of becoming an artist. Her first act of freedom will be a return to the island of Martinique to reunite with her child. She has no way of knowing the tragedies that await her or the price she will pay for her single-minded determination. With her only plan in tatters and nothing to take its place, Deborah resolutely travels to New York City. There, in spite of disasters and her own mistakes, she clings to the lifeline of her art. Against a backdrop of early 20th century historical events, Deborah resists every effort to hinder her as she seeks new, creative ways to express her gift.