England, 1873. John Caldigate, a young gentleman, gets into debt gambling and decides to try his luck in the gold fields of New South Wales. On the outward journey, he promises to marry Mrs Smith, a divorced actress who is travelling on the same ship. Returning home a rich man, he then marries Hester, the sweetheart he left behind. All seems perfect - until a penniless Mrs Smith also returns from Australia, and claims that she is already his wife!