Flame of the Islands

In New York, Rosalind Dee, who works for a public relations firm, responds to the death of her client, wealthy Carlton Hammond, by sending flowers to his home with a card mentioning the "many happy hours" they "spent together," and then attending his funeral. Her actions pique the interest of Carlton's wife Evelyn, a semi-invalid who has suspected her husband of having an affair. After summoning Rosalind, Evelyn surprises her by presenting a $100,000 check and expressing her gratitude that Rosalind made Carlton happy during his last years. Although Rosalind protests mildly, she takes the money. Wade Evans, a co-worker who is quietly attracted to Rosalind, is shocked that she accepted the money, but she is unapologetic. To celebrate, Rosalind takes Wade to dinner and dancing at a nightclub where they encounter the gambler Cyril Mace, who is promoting a private club in Nassau. Upon visiting the club and hearing the names of some of its wealthy clients, Rosalind invests most of her money in the venture, including some on Wade's behalf. Cyril does not tell her that he has also made deals with Gus and other silent partners, who are part of a gang of international racketeers headquartered in Cuba. Wade and Rosalind move to Nassau, and Rosalind serves as the successful club's hostess and nightclub singer. She befriends a recovered alcoholic, Kelly Rand, who now lives a contented, simple life as a preacher and fisherman. She often goes boating with Kelly and is moved by his preaching, but despite Kelly's warnings that Cyril is no good, Rosalind continues to pursue a grander life. Although Kelly and Rosalind enjoy each other's company, their relationship remains platonic. Doug Duryea, a club patron born into an old Virginia family, becomes attracted to Rosalind, but does not recognize that she is the girl, once known as Linda Darcy, whom he loved fifteen years before. Rosalind confides to Wade that her relationship with Doug, who was her first love, was abruptly ended by his godmother, who disapproved of Doug's interest in a fifteen-year-old girl from a lower social class. The godmother was the only person who knew that Rosalind was pregnant, and after she separated the young couple, Rosalind's baby was stillborn. Although Wade wants Rosalind for himself, he helps to reunite her with Doug, who she has continued to love throughout the years. Charmaine, Doug's widowed and ill mother, is initially opposed to Doug's marrying and admits to Rosalind that she wants him to stay with her. However, at Doug's request, Charmaine invites Rosalind to visit them in Richmond at Christmastime and Doug proposes to Rosalind during a party. When Evelyn, who is Doug's godmother, sees Rosalind, she threatens to tell the Duryeas about Rosalind's "affair" with Carlton. Vowing to stop Rosalind from "ruining their lives," Evelyn tells Charmaine that she believes Rosalind was Carlton's lover. When Rosalind returns from Richmond earlier than planned, both Wade and Cyril, who is making advances toward her, are pleased. On an impulse, Kelly kisses Rosalind passionately, but when she tells him about her engagement, he compliments Doug and says he is glad that she will get away from the club. In her apartment, Rosalind finds a distressed Charmaine waiting to ask her about her relationship with Carlton. Still deeply in love with Carlton, Charmaine is disturbed to hear that he may have had a mistress besides herself. Rosalind tries to reassure her and promises not to tell Doug about Charmaine's affair. Noticing that she looks ill, Rosalind calls the doctor, but Charmaine, after expressing regret about Rosalind's baby, dies from grief and a weakened heart. Later, Rosalind confesses to Doug that she took money from Evelyn as a kind of revenge, because she felt it was owed her, not because she was Carlton's lover. When Doug presses her to name Carlton's lover, Rosalind, keeping her promise to Charmaine, refuses. News of Charmaine's death at the club attracts rumors of scandal and voodoo curses, prompting many clients and employees to leave. Drunk and depressed, Rosalind seeks comfort at Kelly's house and he cares for her until she recovers. Later, at the club, Rosalind calls Doug, who, prompted by Evelyn, asks her to prove her innocence of adultery by naming Carlton's mistress. Rather than taint the memory of Doug's mother, Rosalind decides to break their engagement. Gus and his mobsters, unhappy with the club's downturn, come to the club to force Rosalind out of the business. Although surprised to learn that there are other "investors," Rosalind plays for time by suggesting that they take advantage of the free publicity and open up the private club to anyone who will pay. Her clear thinking impresses the mobsters and emboldens Cyril, who tries to force himself on her when they are alone. Wade intervenes and reports that he discovered two account books, which indicate that Cyril has been swindling them. Angry, Cyril assaults Wade, and in the struggle, Wade falls, fatally striking his head. The mobsters then kill Cyril, who had previously shot a flare to alert the Coast Guard, in an attempt to escape. While returning to their yacht, the mobsters abduct Rosalind, and then knock out and abduct Kelly, who has come to rescue her. With Rosalind and Kelly as prisoners, the yacht sails off, but is soon pursued by a patrolling British ship, whose crew is aware of Gus's illegal activities. When Gus's men take evasive action, the British fire at them. Kelly and Rosalind manage to jump off the ship before an explosion sinks it, and swim to the safety of a nearby island. There, Rosalind, who now realizes that she loves Kelly, tells him that she will be content to share his life.