In Scotland, an exiled girl saves the king from outlaws.

Using lines from Scott's poem as titles, the story is told of Ellen Douglas (The Lady of the Lake), daughter of the outlawed Lord James ("the Douglas") and the three suitors for her hand--Roderick Dhu, James FitzJames, and Malcolm Graeme. She unwittingly comes to the aid of the King of Scotland and later is rewarded with the release of her imprisoned father and fiancé.