Victoria Winters’ mysterious journey begins as her train arrives in Collinsport, a small and stormy fishing village on the coast of Maine. An orphan in search of her identity, Victoria is befriended by a stranger named Burke Devlin. At the eerie Collinwood mansion, Victoria meets reclusive matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard, her aloof brother Roger Collins, his troubled ten-year-old son David, and Elizabeth’s rebellious teenage daughter Carolyn.
Roger insists that David should be sent away. Burke deceives Carolyn on why he returned.
Burke assures Elizabeth he has not returned to cause trouble but he inquires about buying Collinwood.
Roger tells Victoria the legend of the widows. Maggie is upset not knowing what is troubling her father.
Victoria catches Burke in the garage standing by Roger’s car. Elizabeth and Roger are skeptical of Burke.
While Burke waits for Roger to join him at the Blue Whale, he visits with Carolyn and Joe.
David is convinced his father hates him. On his way to town, Roger loses control of his car and crashes.
Elizabeth is appalled to learn that Carolyn went to the Blue Whale to see Burke.
David has a nightmare about Roger’s accident. Bill Malloy is certain the crash was caused deliberately.
Roger takes Victoria to confront Burke. David examines an object he has hidden in his room.
Elizabeth is upset at Carolyn’s interest in Burke and informs her that Burke wants revenge.
Roger accuses Burke of causing his car accident. Victoria questions Roger’s assumption of Burke’s guilt.
Victoria receives a letter informing her that a private detective has investigated her background.
Burke persuades Sam to paint his portrait. Roger is angry that Carolyn doubts Burke’s guilt.
Constable Carter investigates Roger’s car accident. David grabs a wrench from the Collinwood garage.
Carolyn admits it was her idea to bring Burke to Collinwood and that he made no threats.
Elizabeth refuses to tell Roger her reasons for hiring Victoria. Victoria finds a hidden object.
The sheriff obtains a warrant to search Burke’s hotel room in connection with Roger’s accident.
Burke confers with his attorney, who has obtained financial information on the Collins family holdings.
Maggie tells Roger that David was trying to get into Burke’s room at the Collinsport Inn.
Burke finds David in his room and they become friends. Burke sees David hide an object in the room.
Roger finds it hard to believe that David may have been involved with his car accident.
Burke attempts to protect David, but later warns Victoria in private to beware of the child.
When the sheriff questions Elizabeth about David, she tries to protect her nephew.
Joe shows up intoxicated at Collinwood. Victoria goes to meet Burke at the Blue Whale.
Responding to Victoria’s story about her past, Burke shows her the report his detective has furnished.
Sam tries to get out of painting Burke’s portrait. Carolyn becomes jealous of Victoria.