A pious young girl has difficulty establishing a relationship with her worldly father who seems indifferent to her religious principles.

Elsie, Edward, and their children spend the summer in upstate New York with the Ross family, whom they share their love of Christ with, and must trust the Lord when their youngest daughter falls ill.

After spending a summer with her Aunt Wealthy and learning about love and betrayal, Elsie Dinsmore returns home to her new stepfamily who help heal her broken heart by taking her to Europe.

During her tenth summer, Elsie is reunited with old friends, travels throughout New England, and introduces her father to the woman who will become her new mother.

In the 1840's, eight-year-old heiress Elsie Dinsmore has only her Christian faith and the hope of love from the father she has never met to sustain her while living on a southern plantation with relatives who care little for her and disapprove of her strong religious principles.

Having refused to violate her religious principles, even at her father's command, nine-year-old Elsie and her father both suffer terribly during his recuperation from a serious illness, especially since his stepmother encourages the rift between them.

Fifteen-year-old Violet Travilla is determined to live the Christian life by braving doubts, dangers, and fear in order to help the poor.

Elsie marries her beloved Edward and they experience the joys and heartaches of parenthood.