A contemporary Wuthering Heights set in the Canadian mountains, then in the European world of fashion and arts. The story begins when the father brings home Tor, the son of his former and now dead lover. His half-sister, the ten-year-old Julie who envies the power and freedom of boys, discovers her developing body fascinates Tor who is struggling with his raging hormones. Their exhibitionistic and voyeuristic play is broken off when Tor marries a sophisticated demi-mondaine who manipulates him though his masochistic desires. Brokenhearted Julie wins a Parisian scholarship. Tor joins her in the rundown Beat Hotel, inhabited by beatniks and small time criminals, but flees in fear of Julie's seductive attempts. On the Parisian barricades Julie's feminist outlook matures--not enough however to avoid marriage with a failed writer, who steals her money and seduces her ruthless business partner. On Tor's return to Paris he recognizes the depth of his love for Julie, and accepts their destiny.