Joe Flynn is an icon of evil. Hidden by an exterior of kindness and camaraderie, he passes freely through society easily making friends who are unable to recognize his dark side. His niece, Collie, is aware of his evil nature, but desperately wants to escape the poverty of her environment and views him as the only hope for avoiding the dismal future her life faces. Working for her uncle, she plans on attending a gala party thrown at a Newport Mansion in an attempt to entertain and swindle her uncle's guests.

Then there’s Low Tide, an engineering student from Slidell, Louisiana whose real name is Philip L’Enfant. His mother was a first generation French actress who turned professional when studying music at LSU, but gave it all up to marry his father, a Bourbon Street musician.

Along with the other characters, they share the human spirit of hope as their lives journey from the bleakness of a New York tavern, to the extravagance of a Newport party and onto the ambience of New Orleans. Haunting in their persona, each character provides intrigue as their lives are disrupted through the influence of Joe Flynn. Relying upon a surprising strength of spirit, they struggle to rise above evil to attain happiness.