The novel takes place in the era of Restoration, a time when everyone still remembers both the events of the revolution and the rule of Napoleon. Three are sitting in the living room of the De La Brie castle near Paris: the landlord, Colonel Delmar, once a brave military man, and now “heavy and bald,” his nineteen-year-old wife, charming fragile Indian creole, and her distant relative, Sir Ralph Brown, “a man in full bloom of youth and strength. "

The servant reports that someone climbed into the garden, and the colonel, grabbing the gun, escapes. Knowing the severe nature of her husband, Indiana is afraid that he would not kill someone in the heat of the moment.

Colonel is returning. Following him, the servants carry an insensible youth "with delicate noble features." Blood flows from the wound on his arm. Justified, the colonel claims that he shot only with salt. Nole Creole, Indiana's dairy sister and maid, along with her mistress bustle around the wounded. The gardener reports that this "very handsome man" is Mr. de Ramier, their new neighbor. Jealousy awakens in the colonel.

Having regained consciousness, de Ramier explains his offense by the desire to infiltrate the colonel’s factory located near the house and find out the secret of its prosperity, because his brother in the south of France has the same enterprise, but it brings him only losses. Delmar once already refused to talk with Ramier on this subject, so he, wanting to help his brother, dared to violate the colonel’s possessions. Mr. Delmar is satisfied with his explanation.

The truth is that “brilliant and witty”, “endowed with various talents” Raymond de Ramier in love with Nun, and the ardent creole reciprocates. That evening in the Delmar garden they had an appointment.

The feelings of the young man are so strong that he even thinks of going to the mesalliance and legitimizing their connection. However, his passion gradually fades, he begins to be weighed down by Nun and hurries to return to Paris. The inconsolable Creole writes him sincere, but awkward letters, causing her lover to only laugh.

Secular lion de Ramier meets in one of the Parisian salons Indiana. Young people remember their first meeting in the castle of de la Brie. Indiana is subdued by Raymond's charm, love awakens in her soul. Early married to Mr. Delmar, “stupid, tactless and ill-mannered,” the young Creole loves for the first time, because she has exclusively friendly feelings for her faithful friend Sir Ralph. Raymond is also captivated by the timid beauty.

Lovers are explained. Indiana's love is pure and selfless, in Raymond's sense there is a fair amount of vanity and self-love. The situation of the young man is complicated by the presence of Nun, who, seeing him at Ms. Delmar, decides that he came to the house for her.

Thinking that Raymond still loves her, Nun, in the absence of the hosts, invites him to Delmar Castle. Fearing that Indiana would not know about his affair with her maid, Raymond agrees to come to Noon, hoping that their meeting will be the last. During a stormy night of love in Indiana’s bedroom, the Creole confesses to her lover that she is expecting a baby. Raymond is terrified, he wants to send Nun away from Paris, but she does not agree.

Madame Delmar returns unexpectedly. Nun, unaware of Ramier’s new hobby, is going to confess to the hostess. Raymond forbids her from doing this. Finding the young man in his bedroom, Indiana decides that he came here for her, and accuses Nun of complicity in the dishonorable plans of the young man. However, the behavior of the maidservant reveals the true reason for Raymond's appearance in the castle. His embarrassment confirms Indiana's suspicions, her feelings are offended, and she chases him away. De Ramier wants to speak with Indiana, but Sir Ralph’s arrival forces him to leave the castle in a hurry. Nun realizes that she has nothing to hope for, and rushes into the river. Indiana still loves Raymond, but Nun's death, in which she rightly blames the young man, fills her with disgust for him. She refuses to see him. In an effort to regain the favor of Madame Delmar, Raymond resorted to the help of his mother. As neighbors, they pay a visit to the colonel together. As the mistress of the house, Indiana is forced to go out to the guests.

Having shown interest in the factory and respectfully speaking about the ousted Bonaparte, Ramier won the sympathy of Mr. Delmar and the right to easily visit his house; he again finds the way to Indiana's heart and receives her forgiveness. The Frenchwoman, sophisticated in secular tricks, would not have succumbed so easily to his seduction, but the inexperienced Creole believes him. Indiana expects Raymond to love her “completely, irrevocably, limitlessly”, ready for her for any sacrifice. Captured by the "irresistible charm" of a young woman, de Ramier promises everything that is required of him.

Raymond wants to get proof of Indiana's love. But all his attempts to spend the night with his beloved are unsuccessful due to the vigilance of Sir Ralph, who, as a relative and friend of the house, constantly takes care of Indiana. Feeling an opponent in him, Raymond tries to humiliate him in Indiana's eyes. Instead of answering, she tells him the story of Sir Ralph Brown.

Ralph and Indiana spent their childhood and youth on the distant island of Bourbon, in the Caribbean. An unloved child in the family, Ralph became attached to little Indiana, raised and protected her. Then he went to Europe, where he married at the insistence of his relatives. But in marriage, he did not find happiness, and when his wife, and even earlier his son died, he returned to Indiana. By this time, she was already married to Colonel Delmar. Without exception, Sir Ralph asked Indiana's husband for permission to settle next to them and come to them as a relative. When the affairs of the colonel in the colonies went badly and he and his wife went to Europe, Sir Ralph followed them. He has no relatives, no friends, Indiana and her husband - this is all his society, all his affections. According to Madame Delmar, he is pleased with his present life near her; he does not interfere in her relationship with her husband, and happiness and joy for him lie in peace and “comforts of life”.

Nevertheless, Raymond manages to plunge into the soul of Indiana a grain of distrust towards the Friend of childhood. The unflappable-looking Sir Ralph suffers deeply from the cooling of Indiana to him, but even more zealously protects her from the ardent de Ramier.

Raymond is bored of reclusive life and exalted love without the hope of rapprochement. He is leaving for Paris. Indiana is in despair; to see her lover again, she is ready to confess her love to her husband. But the colonel suddenly goes broke and is forced to go to Paris. Then, having settled things and having sold the castle, he is going to leave for the island of Bourbon, where he still has a house.

Usually the obedient Indiana flatly refuses to go with her husband. Not getting her consent, an angry colonel locks her in the room. Indiana gets out through the window and runs to her lover. She spends all night in his bedroom, and when Raymond returns in the morning, she tells him that she is ready to stay with him forever. “The time has come and I want to receive a reward for my trust: tell me, do you accept my sacrifice?” She asks Ramiera.

Frightened by such determination and wanting to quickly get rid of his beloved lover, Raymond, on the pretext of caring for her reputation, dissuades her from such a step. However, Indiana foresaw everything - the night she spent in the house of a young man had already compromised her in the eyes of the world and her husband. Raymond is furious: he has fallen into the net of his own oaths. Having lost power over himself, he is trying to take possession of Indiana. Realizing that Ramier no longer loves her, she breaks free and leaves.

In desperation, Indiana wanders sadly along the river: she wants to follow Nun’s example. Seeking her from early morning, Sir Ralph rescues her from a fatal step and escorts her home. Instead of explaining, Indiana coldly declares to the indignant Delmar that she is ready to sail with him in the colony. Faithful Sir Ralph rides with the Dalmars.

With his cares, Sir Ralph is struggling to brighten up Indiana's life on Bourbon Island. Suddenly, a young woman receives a letter from Raymond: he writes that he is unhappy without her. The smoldering fire of former love flashes in Indiana's soul with renewed vigor.

Raymond’s letter falls into Delmar’s hands. Jealous husband beats Indiana. Having learned about the monstrous cruelty of the colonel, the indignant Ralph wants to kill him, but an apoplexy blow happens to Delmar. Forgetting about hatred, Indiana takes care of her sick husband. But one night she, taking her meager savings, sets sail for France, to Raymond.

Political winds are changing, and Ramier is on the verge of ruin. In order to fix things, he favorably marries the adopted daughter of a wealthy bourgeois who bought the estate of Delmar.

Arriving in Bordeaux, Indiana becomes ill with brain inflammation and, having no documents, gets to the hospital for the poor. A month later, without money and the most necessary, she appears on the street. Fortunately, the ship on which she arrived had not yet sailed back, and an honest captain returned to her the remaining things and money on board.

Upon reaching Paris, she finds out that Raymond bought the castle de la Brie owned by her husband, and decides that he did so in the hope of her return. However, having arrived at the castle, she meets not only Raymond, but also his wife ...

Not remembering herself with grief, Indiana returns to Paris and stops at a cheap hotel. Then Sir Ralph finds her. Having discovered the disappearance of Indiana and knowing about Raymond’s letter, he realized that she had fled to Europe to her lover. Sir Ralph informs Indiana that her husband passed away without regaining consciousness, she is free and can marry her chosen one. "Monsieur de Ramier married!" - Indiana screams in response.

Indiana despises Ramiera, she is desperate and wants to die. Sir Ralph invites her to die together, having done so on their home island, in the gorge where they played as children. Indiana agrees and they cross the ocean again. Along the way, Indiana begins to appreciate the courageous and noble character of Ralph, and in her soul the last memories of her blind love for Raymond fade.

On the island of Bourbon, Ralph and Indiana, preparing to part with life, climb a picturesque mountain. Here, Ralph, in a last rush, admits that he always loved Indiana. For the first time, a young woman sees him so passionate and exalted. She understands that she should have loved him, not Raymond. “Be my spouse in heaven and on earth!” - exclaims Indiana, kissing Ralph. He takes her in his arms and goes to the top.

A year later, wandering in the mountains of Bourbon Island, a young traveler unexpectedly wanders into a hut; Sir Ralph and Indiana live in it. Happiness came to them at the cost of many efforts, but now their days are "equally calm and beautiful." Their life flows without grief and without regrets, and they enjoy unknown happiness, to which they owe only to themselves.