This is the story of a young talented woman, Frances Bollinger, who, having arrived in New York from a small provincial town, goes through a harsh school of difficult love, betrayal and, finally, finding herself and her happiness in this citadel of American business. This is also a story. well-deserved punishment and the fall of the family of financial tycoon Anton Magnus. A cruel and calculating chess fan, he tries to dictate his rules of the game to Francie, but ultimately suffers a crushing fiasco.