Naked Hearts plot
Maud and Cecil have been in love since they were children in the pre-Civil War South, but Maud's domineering brother, Howard, disapproves of their marriage. He has chosen the English nobleman Lord Lovelace as Maud's ideal fiancé. On the night the engagement is announced, she elopes with Cecil. The runaways are caught, however, and Maud, out of loyalty to her brother, sends Cecil away. When the Civil War begins, Howard, Lovelace, and Cecil all volunteer for military service and are soon reported dead. Heartbroken, Maud decides to become a nun and takes her vows just before Cecil, falsely reported dead, returns from battle and arrives at the convent to propose.