Ruth Herwood adopts Mary, the daughter of Jones, a drunken cobbler, whom she sends to Australia. When Jones returns, he opens a tavern with Palmyra, a dancer, who is connected to Ling Soo, the keeper of an opium den. Palmyra demands that Jones blackmail Ruth to force the beautiful Mary to work in the tavern. After meeting Jones, the desperate and nervous Ruth serves him a poisoned drink.—Ulf Kjell Gür