What is a young man to do when his wife dies and leaves him with a baby son, a cat, a dog, and an otter cub? Phillip Maddison experiences such a tragedy after but a year of married happiness. The otter, her pet, goes wild when released from a gin trap, and thereafter Phillip's life is dedicated to finding Lutra again in the hope it will bring him new happiness. The search culminates one summer day when the otter is hunted by hounds to exhaustion. On that day Phillip finds his courage again through direct action, which leads to the hope of a new life with Lucy Copleston and her delightful family.