Summary
In the labyrinthine milieu of societal strictures and artistic fervor, Joline, a woman whose existence is defined by the euphemism 'Daughter of Joy,' embarks on an unexpected odyssey of the heart. Her muse-like allure captivates Paul Granville, a struggling painter, whose canvases ignite with a newfound verve under her influence, propelling him from obscurity to a burgeoning renown. As his artistic star ascends, particularly with the coveted commission for 'The Madonna of the Rose Bush,' Paul's quest for an ideal model threatens to eclipse Joline's central role, prompting a tempest of possessive jealousy that drives away potential rivals. Their pilgrimage to a secluded monastery, steeped in the lore of a miraculous rose bush, becomes a crucible for Joline's profound metamorphosis. There, a sagacious monk, discerning an unexpected purity, declares her a living embodiment of the Virgin, an pronouncement that reverberates deep within her, stirring an dormant spiritual conscience. This profound revelation compels Joline to sever ties with Paul, embarking on a path of self-redemption. Fate, however, orchestrates their poignant reunion amidst the brutal crucible of the battlefield, where Joline, now a Red Cross nurse, discovers her former lover gravely wounded, testament to a bond that transcends the societal judgments and personal transformations that once divided them.
Synopsis
Joline, a "Daughter of Joy," becomes enamored of Paul Granville, a poor artist, and as his model enables him to win fame in a series of startling canvases. A wealthy patron of art commissions Paul to paint "The Madonna of the Rose Bush," and he feels that a new model is needed, but the jealous Joline drives them away, and they start for the monastery, where the miracle of the rose bush is supposed to have occurred. There a monk declares that in Joline he has seen the Virgin, and some chord in her better nature is touched. She leaves Paul, but is reunited when she, a Red Cross nurse, finds him wounded upon the battlefield.
