Smilin’ Through

In 1898, John Carteret stands by Moonyean Clare's grave and calls to her in the garden. He sometimes hears her speak, though he cannot see her, and the memory of her wedding dress haunts him. Moonyean tells him to be patient and that the years will pass quickly.

John, now a virtual recluse after Moonyean's death, is approached by Dr. Owen with Moonyean's orphaned niece, Kathleen. Owen hopes John will adopt and care for her. The arrangement begins to reinsert Moonyean's past into John's present.

Years pass and Kathleen's 1915 birthday brings John and Owen to celebrate in the garden. He notes that Kathleen bears a strong resemblance to Moonyean, deepening both his ache and his guilty hope. The connection hints at old rivalries resurfacing through a new romance.

During a violent thunderstorm, Kathleen and Willie break into the long-deserted Wayne mansion and discover an invitation to Moonyean’s wedding. A stranger arrives, introducing himself as Kenneth Wayne, Jeremy Wayne’s American son. A spark forms between Kathleen and Kenneth, much to John's silent fury.

In the garden, John explains the decades-long feud: Kenneth Wayne’s father was his mortal enemy, and vengeance has driven much of Moonyean’s tragedy. Kathleen hears the tale and watches a flashback unfold, linking the Wayne name to John's pain. The story reopens wounds that neither can easily heal.

At a party the night before Kathleen and Kenneth’s wedding, Moonyean’s voice fills the room as she sings 'Smilin’ Through.' Jerry Wayne is drinking heavily and confronts Moonyean at the back gate. Kathleen and Kenneth steal a private moment in the garden, unaware of the danger nearby.

The ceremony is interrupted when Jerry, drunk, tries to shoot John. Moonyean rushes toward him and the bullet grazes her near the heart. She dies in John’s arms as he places the ring on her finger.

After finishing his tale, John forces Kathleen to promise never to see Kenneth again. Kenneth tries to understand, but love transcends his vow to obey his elder's wishes. The revelation cements John's isolating hatred while turning Kathleen toward her forbidden love.

World War I provides a backdrop for Kathleen and Kenneth to meet in secret at Mrs. Crouch’s tea shop, their conversations punctuated by news of the war abroad. They speak of a future together despite the risks and distances. Their romance grows under the shadow of the global conflict.

Kathleen pleads with Kenneth to take her to Dover, but John refuses to concede her happiness to his old rival. Realizing he cannot abandon Kathleen, Kenneth agrees to part, and they say goodbye at the station. He resolves to pursue a life where he can be with Kathleen without John’s sanction.

Upon hearing of the rift, Moonyean visits John, but his hatred still blocks reconciliation. The ghostly presence underscores the tragedy of his vow for revenge. Yet her visit plants a quiet hope that he might someday set things right.

As World War I ends, Kathleen searches a troop train for Kenneth but cannot locate him among the wounded. Owen tends the soldiers and finds Kenneth, who is badly injured—his legs damaged—and asks Owen to keep his condition secret from Kathleen. The two men keep Kenneth's secret to protect Kathleen.

Owen informs John of Kenneth’s plan to sail for America the next day, signaling a chance to reunite later. Kathleen notices a light at the Wayne mansion and runs toward it, while Kenneth hides his crutches and pretends that he no longer cares for her. The image hints at a possible future beyond anger and separation.

Motivated by a fragile hope, John yields and tells Kathleen the full truth, urging her to bring Kenneth back. He instructs them to return together so the past can be laid to rest. The confession marks a turning point in their strained relationships.

John dies peacefully, finally reconciled with Moonyean in the afterlife. Kathleen brings Kenneth back to the house, and the two lovers walk inside together. Moonyean and John appear as spectral lovers, driving off in a carriage feted by the spirits of their wedding guests.