Ex-con Joe Bell (John Garfield) is sentenced to work on a farm, where he falls in love with Mabel (Priscilla Lane), the foreman's daughter. This leads to a fight between Joe and Charles (Stanley Ridges), her stepfather, during which Charles is wounded. The young lovers run away, marrying shortly after crossing the state line, and Joe begins to find a place in the world as a photographer. However, his chance at happiness is threatened when they learn Charles has died of his wounds.