Paul Williams a handsome and charismatic young man returns to India after the completion of his education. Unknown to him he had been adopted immediately after his birth as he was the illegitimate son of an English woman and coincidentally, Walter the son of one of the founders of the company for whom he was now going to work. Walter was eventually dismissed because after saving a young widow from committing suttee they had lived together much against the conventions of the time' Paul is very good at his job and assists the company to purchase a small factory at a far better price than they contemplated due to an affair he had with the wife of the accountant who was advising the purchase. Later, on the death of his adoptive mother he discovers who he really is and what happened to his real father and decides that nothing will stop him becoming Chairman of the company a position he believes his father should have had.and an ambition which leads to a terrible climax.