Terry Dunniva a retired seacaptain living in Marblehead Massachusetts adopts two children Chrystal and Ned As the girl grows to womanhood Terry realizes his fatherlylove had grown to something stronger He asks her to become his wife Chrystal who is in love with her fosterbrother consents rather than destroy Terrys happiness On the day of their marriage Ned returns from a long voyage with the intent of making Chrysal his wife And he too rather than destroy the happiness of his adoptedfather leaves to embark on an Artic voyage that might mean his death When Terry learns of the sacrifice both Chrystal and Ned are making on behalf of his happiness he takes Neds place on the voyage and gets both to pledge that if he does not return they will marry each other