The setting is in the late 1830s of rural Indiana. Dannie has always loved Mary, and had even asked his best friend Jimmy Malone to "win her over" for him. Jimmy decided to take Mary for himself and married her. Dannie and the Malones' cabins are next to each other. Dannie does twice the work on their farms because Jimmy is a lousy drunk and doesn't appreciate Mary. Dannie does his best to persevere, but for how long?