Lalage Sturdee is a brilliant pianist. Virtually abandoned at birth by her father an eminent surgeon a mishap at the hands of an unqualified practitioner has left her disabled for life... or so she believes. Despite her father's objections she puts her faith in Anton Ragatzy, the ebullient and outspoken inventor of a machine which appears to give miraculous results. A machine which will either cure her completely or cripple her forever