Don Pedro, the elegant landowner of Puerto Rico, is conquered by Astree, the rebellious travelling Swedish woman. They get married and have a child. Their relationship begins to change and Don holds Astree a prisoner. Homesicked, all Astree's pent-up hatred of her husband and his island breaks out when her childhood friend Dr. Sven appears to investigate the cause of a vicious fever to which the island has fallen prey. Don is determined at all costs to prevent the epidemic from becoming public knowledge in order to save his fruit export business.