Wealthy old John Grant has set his heart on the marriage of his orphan niece Ethel, to Harry Renolds, son of an old friend. Harry loves Ethel, but it's not mutual. While visiting a distant city, Ethel falls in love with and marries Charles Lacy, a poor young man. Harry is visiting at the same place, and when Ethel telegraphs her uncle that she is married, Grant assumes that her husband is Harry; dying suddenly, never has his mistake corrected and consequently made no change in his will, by which a million dollars is left to Ethel, to be turned over to her when she is the wife of Harry Renolds. Having married another, she, of course, receives nothing. Ethel and Charley suffer extreme poverty, the husband being almost an invalid. Their only child also needs long and expensive medical treatment. Harry still loves Ethel, but not being wealthy himself, can do little to assist her. Charley determines to kill himself in order that Ethel may be free to marry Harry and fulfill conditions of the will. Harry sees a newspaper announcement of a Supreme Court decision to the effect that conditions impossible of fulfillment, attached to bequests, are invalid, and that the bequests must be paid. With this good news he hurries to the Lacy home and finds Charley upon the point of carrying out his determination. Harry has only to steal away quietly and allow Charley to accomplish his intention, and Ethel will be free. He undergoes a struggle, but prevents Charley from accomplishing his deadly purpose. Harry explains to Ethel and Charley the import of the Supreme Court decision, but the joy this announcement brings is cut short by Charley's sudden death. Ethel claims her legacy and Harry urges her to become his wife, and is happy when at last she comes to his arms.
—Moving Picture World synopsis
