| Director | Gottfried Reinhardt |
|---|---|
| Genre | drama film, romance film |
| Runtime | 84 min |
| Country | United States |
| Budget | $1 million |
| Box office | $1.5 million |
Architect Dan Pierce and his wife Ellen are happily married. However, Ellen's heart is weak because of a childhood bout of rheumatic fever, and she must be careful to avoid overexertion. Her wealthy father and family doctor know that she has only a few more months to live, but they have not informed her.
When Ellen visits acquaintance Maud Redwick, Dan's embittered former girlfriend, Maud reminds Ellen about a vicious remark that Maud had spoken at Ellen and Dan's wedding, saying that Dan was only a "loan" to Ellen for about a year. Ellen gathers other clues, such as an invitation for Dan to attend a medical conference, that lead her to the truth about her prognosis and another devastating secret: her father had arranged the marriage to make her happy, and Dan did not love her.
When Dan learns that Ellen knows the truth, he confesses through flashbacks that he had initially rejected her father's offer, but without success in his career, he had married her at her father's behest. However, he has since fallen deeply in love with her.
Dan tells Ellen about a doctor who has devised a new technique that has a promising chance of curing her. He begs her to undergo the operation that he has arranged for her. If it is a success, they will know by spring. She agrees to submit to the medical procedure. In the spring, she is healthy and still happily married to Dan.