The title character of this Masterpiece Theater presentation is the illegitimate son of a wealthy British aristocrat. With a secretive past and an unlimited supply of cash, he turns to gambling where he meets Gwendolyn, a beautiful woman in desperate need of money. From their meeting at a roulette table, a romance blossoms. Daniel, however, is already involved in a passionate relationship with a Jewish singer. Based on George Eliot's novel, this adaptation depicts a heartbreaking love triangle while examining class and wealth in British society.