After her husband is reported lost at sea, Beth Wylie supports herself and her little daughter with the proceeds of a small interior decorating shop. Beth falls in love with Tom Benham, an insurance agent, and gives his bored mother a job as her assistant. Attempting to sell insurance to gruff Commodore Gordon, Beth's uncle, Tom announces his intention to marry her. The commodore disapproves and sets out to ruin Beth's business. Beth's husband turns out to be alive, engaged in smuggling Chinese into California on a schooner. Wylie kidnaps his wife and sets sail, but the commodore and Tom give chase in a tug. In a thrilling battle, Wylie is killed and Beth is rescued. Tom sells the commodore life insurance and obtains his blessing for a marriage to Beth.