The Crucible of Life: After a brief and unhappy marriage, Gladys Dale finds work as the companion to Diana Dorset, the daughter of a society matron. Mrs. Dorset also has a spendthrift son, Robert, who makes a number of unwelcome advances to Gladys. However, with the arrival of Edwin Fairfax, Mrs. Dorset's younger brother, Gladys finds a soul mate. But then Fairfax has to report for duty in France (being as World War I is going on) and he leaves.