Helen Merritt, the private secretary of John Randall, falls in love with Jack Wayne, one of Randall's employees. Having himself fallen in love with Helen, Randall sends Jack to Mexico, later faking reports that he has been killed in a saloon brawl. Randall then gets her father, an impoverished southern colonel, into his power by paying off some of the colonel's debts. Randall invites the Merritts to be his guests at his Long Island estate and persuades the brokenhearted Helen to marry him for the sake of her father's comfort. Jack returns from Mexico and arrives at Randall's estate in time to be the first to congratulate Helen on her marriage. Randall confesses his plot, but Helen decides to stay married to him rather than cause scandal. Randall is mysteriously murdered, and, despite Jack's false and noble confession, Helen is arrested. Miss Grant, Randall's housekeeper, confesses to the crime, however, telling the sheriff that Randall went back on his promise to give her child a name.—AFI