While developing a powerful explosive, naval officer Paul Towne introduces his friend Richard Tracy to Judith Corbin, his friend since childhood. For years, Paul had assumed that he would marry Judith, but when Richard proposes, Judith, tired of waiting for Paul, accepts. Soon after the marriage, Richard becomes more interested in the new explosive than in his new wife, and to pay off gambling debts, he agrees to steal the formula and sell it to a foreign government. While spying at close range on a test of the explosive, however, Richard is killed, after which Judith, who has long since realized her mistake in becoming Richard's wife, accepts Paul's marriage proposal.—Pamela Short

Paul Towne returns from a cruise and is greeted by his mother and Judith Corbin, daughter of General Corbin, U.S.A., retired, whose estates are adjoining. Paul and Judith were reared together and are like brother and sister. After his return, Paul is sent to Washington, where he meets Richard Tracy, a lieutenant in the army. They become friends. Paul invites him to his house, where he meets Judith. They become friends at once, friendship grows into love, they become engaged and later get married. In Washington, however, Richard has met a man named Vrooman, who presents himself as a wealthy man of leisure and introduces him to an adventuress known as the Countess Nimy. Vrooman is really the head of the secret service for a foreign government, and Nimy one of his operatives, who runs a fashionable gambling place in Washington society. Richard is introduced to this place, where he plays, winning at first. Paul, who has come to realize his love for Judith, takes a cruise to forget her. While out on "The Wadsworth," United States torpedo boat destroyer No. 60, he learns that the torpedoes do not explode properly, so he endeavors to invent a new explosive. After the honeymoon, Richard and Judith locate in Washington, where Judith's father, through his influence, has procured a good position for his son-in-law. Richard is cool to Judith, but noticeably amiable to Nimy, who plays with him as with a toy. Judith returns home and Richard, living the high-society life, is soon without funds. Nimy induces Vrooman to advance him money on I.O.U.'s which Richard gives. Returning home, Judith learns that Paul is working in a shack built back of the Towne home, where he is trying his experiments. She assists him and takes down notes for him. Soon they realize that they love each other, but there's a barrier and they must never think of love again. Just as Paul strikes the right formula, he transcribes it to Judith, telling her to copy it carefully and preserve it for him. At this time Vrooman informs Richard that he must pay back his loans at once. Richard begs for more time, and while conversing, Vrooman informs Richard that Paul is working on some explosive formula, and that if he can procure the formula, there will be a neat little fortune in it for him. That night Richard obtains the notes from Judith's room and copies the formula, but is discovered by his wife. Richard tells Judith that he was looking for Paul's love letters, and that if he saw them together again he would kill them both. Paul goes aboard the torpedo destroyer "Wadsworth" to try his experiment, being accompanied by General Corbin and Judith. The captain of the "Wadsworth" informs Paul that he will try the first torpedo against Clarges Rock. In the meantime, Vrooman and Richard decide to watch the test, but not until a shadow of the United States Government has trailed them to a launch, where, making his identity known, he goes as mechanic on the boat. There is a derelict not far from Clarges Rock, and the two men decide they will watch the experiments from aboard the derelict. The first torpedo is launched against the rock, splitting the rock in half; the first time any torpedo had registered such an explosion. Paul's formula is found effective, but the captain orders another trial. The derelict, which has been a menace to shipping for some time, is made the target. With great accuracy the second torpedo is sent on its journey. Just as it is launched Vrooman and Richard attempt to escape, but too late. The torpedo strikes the derelict amidships. There is a terrible explosion. The old ship is blown to smithereens, and the two spies are killed. As the destroyer heads off for port, the launch bearing the United States Secret Service agent notifies the captain that two spies, Evan Vrooman and Richard Tracy, were aboard the derelict when it exploded. Upon learning this Judith collapses, but, after recovering from her shock, realizes that Richard, unworthy of her love and unfaithful as he had proved himself to be, met his master, and with the obstacles now removed, she and Paul could renew the love and happiness that had been theirs from childhood, save for Richard's presence between them.—Moving Picture World synopsis