Julian, a charismatic Cuban poet possessed with a passionate love of freedom, is exiled from his homeland for demonstrating in favor of his country's independence from the tyrannical hold of Spain. He lands in Mexico City, where he proposes marriage to Lucia, the spinster daughter of a Cuban lawyer exiled in that city. Knowing that the wedding must wait until he establishes himself professionally, Julian goes to Guatemala City, where a teaching job awaits and where Lucia is to follow him in time.

What Julian has not reckoned on is that in Guatemala he will meet and fall madly in love with Sol, daughter of that country's great liberator, Don Manuel. For Sol, on the verge of womanhood, Julian is her first love, and she places her trust in him with total abandon. But Julian, a man of great principle, knows that even though he loves Sol beyond limits, he is expected to honor the pledge he made to Lucia, no matter how great the sacrifice, or how tragic the consequences.