Matt and Louisa are tricked into falling in love by their fathers, who pretend to feud. A swashbuckler is hired to stage a phony adventure in which Matt 'saves' the girl, a ploy designed to reinforce their love and give the fathers a pretense to break off their 'feud' and result in a Happy Ending. But the plot turns sour, shattering the kids' illusions and inciting a genuine feud between the fathers. After a separation and a series of painful personal defeats, the lovers learn the realities of life. Their romance is reignited and they gain a deeper view of life and love.