After watching her family brutally murdered by Kanak warriors, a young French girl, Helene, finds herself orphaned in 1800's New Caledonia. She is taught to overcome her fear of the Kanak people and learns to respect and admire their culture. Helene grows up and raises a family of two children, but racial tensions and tragedy see Helene widowed at a young age and she forced leave her family and farm to accept work at a nickel mine.

Helene's daughter, Jeanne, has grown into a flighty young girl who dreams of a more sophisticated life away from New Caledonia. Jeanne's brother Tom returns with his new wife, Maximilienne. Helene is not impressed with Maximilienne's overbearing ways, but Jeanne is transfixed by the sophisticated Parisienne. Jeanne runs away from her growing feelings for her childhood friend only to find herself trapped in a loveless marriage.