A conductor means to destroy the career of a former student, pianist Myra Hassman. Showing no mercy, he conspires to ruin her even as she wrestles with Rachmaninoff at Carnegie Hall.

World-renowned pianist Leopold Goronoff goes to Philadelphia to judge auditions for a music scholarship and is pleased to meet Fredrich Hassman, a once great pianist who retired from a successful career in order to marry and teach. Despite the egotistical, chauvinistic Goronoff's assertion that marriage is irrelevant for a musician, Hassman introduces him to his daughter Myra, who is there for the audition. Goronoff is enchanted by Myra's loveliness and talent and later goes to the Hassman farm in Pennsylvania. Myra, dazzled by Goronoff's ability and arrogance, is thrilled when he then postpones a European concert tour to stay with them. As Goronoff tutors Myra, her infatuation with him deepens, much to the dismay of George Sampter, the farmhand who has loved Myra since they were children. After a month, Goronoff must leave to fulfill his concert schedule and he offers to take Myra along as his protegee. Myra is delighted to have the opportunity to see the world, and George encourages her while sadly bidding her farewell. In New York City, Goronoff introduces Myra to his autocratic grandmother, Mama Goronoff, who reprimands him for letting someone come between him and his music. Mama warms to Myra when she hears her play, however, and soon the little family, along with Goronoff's secretary, Nikolas Kavlun, is traveling throughout Europe. Tiring of Europe, Goronoff packs them off to South America, and there, Myra learns that her father has passed away. Despite her sadness, Myra continues to learn from Goronoff and also to shoo away his many girl friends, to whom he always promises marriage. After two years of training, Goronoff proclaims Myra ready for a concert of her own and they return to New York, where Myra is to play Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 at Carnegie Hall. Goronoff conducts as Myra plays the piano, but her brilliant playing sparks his envy until the concerto becomes a battle between them. Myra is bewildered by Goronoff's overt anger and she leaves the stage in tears after he has proven his domination over her. Back at their hotel, Goronoff castigates Myra for what he perceives as her attempt to copy his style, then dismisses her. After Myra leaves, Mama tells Goronoff that he has made a mistake, and that his dismissal of Myra is an admission that she is the better musician. Myra returns to the Hassman farm, where her connection to Goronoff remains so strong that one evening, while he is playing a concert in New York, she plays the same piece at home. When Myra stops playing, Goronoff abruptly leaves the stage, then announces his retirement from performing. George refuses to allow Myra to mope and persuades her to marry him, even though he fears that she will always love Goronoff. As the years pass, George and Myra have a daughter named Georgette, whom they call Porgy, and Goronoff teaches piano. Six years after their parting, Goronoff finally realizes that he has loved Myra all along, but Mama, knowing that Myra is married, makes Goronoff promise not to go after her. Years later, Porgy, now a young adult, reveals to Myra that she has secretly been studying piano with Michael Severin, a former student of Goronoff. Severin wants Porgy to come with him to New York, where he will present her in her first concert at Carnegie Hall, and although Myra is overwhelmed with doubt, she allows Porgy to go. Just before Porgy's concert, George talks Myra into presenting her to Goronoff, who will give her an honest opinion of Porgy's talent. Determined to face her fears about her lingering love for Goronoff, Myra takes Porgy to see him, and he quickly realizes that Porgy, while talented, is not a great musician. Goronoff sends Porgy away and arrogantly tells Myra that he is still her master. Myra spurns Goronoff's attempt to kiss her, however, and that night, takes Porgy's place at the piano. Goronoff substitutes for Severin as conductor, and the former teacher and pupil recreate their earlier battle when they again play Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2. Myra easily holds her own, and does not allow Goronoff to intimidate her. Moved by Myra's grace and talent, Goronoff finally admits to himself that he was wrong, and that "there is a woman in music." Before the music ends, Myra rushes offstage, where George is waiting, and declares that she has always loved him. George embraces his trembling, happy wife, and assures her that he has always known of her love for him.