Plot

Mary Melville marries rich playboy Claude Varden to please her invalid mother. On the night they are to depart for a South American honeymoon, Mary's mother becomes seriously ill and Mary decides to stay home and taker care of her. Varden goes on the trip anyway, as he owns some mines in South America. However, Tom Nelson, the husband one of the many married women Varden has had affairs with in the past, is stalking him and follows him on board the ship. On the ship Varden meets the beautiful and rich Nitra Ruiz and her brother Ramon. Deciding that he doesn't want to be married to Mary anymore, he proposes to Nitra. However, his plans don't quite work out the way he had wanted them to.—frankfob2@yahoo.com

Mary Melville, to please her invalid mother marries Claude Varden, a wealthy man of the world. On the eve of the marriage Mrs. Melville is stricken and Varden receives a business summons to Buenos Aires. Tom Nelson, whose wife has been wronged by Varden, calls at the latter's apartments in a drunken condition and tries to kill him, but is overpowered by Varden. Immediately after the marriage Varden insists that Mary leave her dying mother and sail with him. Angered by her refusal he sails alone telling her to follow. On the ship he is attracted by Nitra Ruiz, a South American heiress and they become engaged. Mary left alone with no income after her mother's death, and deserted by Varden, seeks employment. The papers announce a shipwreck and the death of Varden, naming him as the fiancée of Nitra Ruiz. Mary decides she will never use the name of Varden. Varden is rescued but does not let Mary know. He marries Nitra and she signs her entire fortune over to him. Mary secures employment in the law office of John Herrick and they become attached to each other. Elsie Brandenham, in love with Herrick is jealous of Mary but pretends friendship for her. John and Mary leave for a nearby seaside resort to be married. John leaves Mary to make preparations for the wedding and she comes face to face with Varden. Mary faints and Varden putting her in an auto takes her to his apartments. Varden having gained all Nitra's money has left her and comes to New York. Nitra kills herself and leaves a note for her brother telling what Varden has done. Ruiz follows Varden determined to kill him and comes into the apartment where Varden is holding Mary. During a fight between the two men Mary escapes and Varden kills Ruiz with Mary's hatpin, which has dropped on the floor. Mary unable to reach John, goes to the home of Elsie Brandenham for the night. An account of the murder in the newspaper and a picture of the hatpin tell Elsie that it was Mary's hatpin which killed Ruiz. Herrick is retained as Varden's lawyer and Mary breaks her engagement with him but does not tell him of her relationship to Varden. The trial is going against Herrick because Mary Varden cannot be found. Elsie comes to the office and tells Mary she knows her secret. Mary goes to the courtroom and gives herself up but meanwhile Tom Nelson, a trusty in the jail, has killed Varden.