After the death of her affluent sister, Cousin Bette seeks to ingratiate herself into the lives of her brother-in-law, Baron Hulot, and her niece, Hortense Hulot. Having failed to do so, she seeks solace and companionship in an attractive young sculptor whom she saves from famine. However, the promising artist falls in love with another lady, Hortense, and leaves Bette a bitter spinster. Bette devises a plan to exact vengeance on the family who rejected her and stole her only love. She progressively destroys the lives of those who have scorned her with the help of renowned courtesan Jenny Cadine.