A beautiful widow takes up residence in the near-derelict Wildfell Hall. Befriended by a young farmer, she will not tell him about her past, until malicious gossip spreads.

Helen decides to reveal more to Gilbert and gives him her diary. He learns about her doomed marriage to the rich Arthur Huntingdon and how she fled his debauched cruelty. Show more

Huntingdon has abducted young Arthur and Helen returns to him. In spite of his dissolute behaviour, she nurses him till his death. She agrees to marry faithful Gilbert Markham.