The Valley of Decision

In Pittsburgh, Mary tells her crippled father Pat that she has been hired as a housemaid for steel mill owner William Scott. Pat disapproves, recalling his own injury at the mill and fearing for her safety. This job will draw Mary into the Scott family's orbit and set the stage for her future romance with Paul.

William Scott's son Paul returns from London and is welcomed by Clarissa and the Scott siblings. During the family dinner that evening, Mary is introduced to Paul and feels a pull toward him. The meeting marks the start of their complicated relationship.

At the steel mill, Paul expresses a desire to modernize the furnace to produce finer steel. Jim Brennan shows him a model at Mary's residence, but Pat forces him to leave, angering Mary. She begins to fall in love with Paul as the tension between work and family intensifies.

One night Constance tries to sneak out to elope with Giles, the Earl of Moulton, but Mary stops the attempt. The act reinforces Mary’s loyalty to the family. The incident leaves the household dealing with the fallout of family plans and loyalties.

Clarissa invites Mary aboard a cruise to William Jr.'s wedding in Boston, where Mary and Paul share a kiss on the ship’s deck. The voyage marks a turning point in their relationship as distance keeps them apart.

After several months, Paul struggles to modernize the furnace but remains determined to win Mary. He proposes marriage, despite Mary’s concern about her status as a housemaid. She contemplates leaving her job but fears the social consequences.

Constance reveals her marriage to the Earl of Moulton, and with Clarissa’s permission Mary accompanies them to England. Mary bids farewell to her family but not to Paul, reaffirming the separation between their two lives.

Back in Pittsburgh, Paul’s mill faces a strike and his father falls ill with pneumonia, prompting letters between him and Mary. Constance urges Mary to reply, but Mary finds herself unable to write back. The long-distance strain tests their devotion.

Clarissa tells her husband that Paul is in love with Mary, and he sends for Mary to return to Pittsburgh. Upon her return, he offers his blessing, and Mary and Paul resume their romance. The reunion signals the couple’s intention to pursue marriage despite obstacles.

Paul and the Scotts attempt to navigate labor unrest as the strike turns violent. The violence results in the deaths of Pat and William, leaving Mary heartbroken and convinced that she can never marry Paul. The tragedy halts their immediate plans for a life together.

A decade passes and Paul marries Louise Kane, fathering a young son. Mary remains connected to the mills and contemplates her own future as changes unfold within the Scott family. The romantic tension between Mary and Paul lingers in the background.

Clarissa dies, and she sells her business share to Mary, trusting her to preserve the mills’ legacy. At a meeting, Paul’s siblings vote to sell their shares, but Mary persuades Constance to keep hers, strengthening Mary’s position in the family business.

Paul decides to leave Louise and return to Mary, choosing love and a shared past over conventional expectations. Their reunion finally ensures they will face the future together, with Mary having earned a lasting role in the mills’ destiny.