Horace Wheeler is handsome, quick-witted and poor. Horace's one desire is to be in love, which leads him into proposing. Aunt Jane is a sincere, kind-hearted Christian widow who's not always appreciated for her words of wisdom or her little "sermons". Those little sermons interfered with the good times Horace has with the less serious young people he keeps company with and his unfailing sense of humor and easy manner makes him a favorite in his crowd. But then the Civil War breaks out and Aunt Jane's prayers follow Horace after he enlists to fight - and his experiences make him become a different man; not only physically but spiritually.