Annette Delancey, a beautiful and clever animal painter, is engaged to marry John Gilbert, an artist. Wm. Barlow, circus man, engages Annette to paint life pictures of certain ferocious tigers. Just at this time, Gilbert announces that he must start for Paris at once. He and Annette promise to write each other at frequent intervals. Barlow is smitten with Annette's charms and develops a villainous animosity towards Gilbert, so that when letters arrive from Paris, Barlow secretes them in a table drawer. Annette begins painting the tigers at the country home of Barlow, presided over by the latter's maiden sister. The tigers are in an improvised cage connected with the living-room. For two months Annette resists the importunities of Barlow, but finally becoming piqued at the apparent discourtesy of Gilbert, she accepts Barlow's attentions. Annette learns to train the tigers and work them in their cage. Gilbert returns from Paris and has a desperate fight with Barlow. Gilbert is forced into the tigers' cage to be torn by their relentless claws. Annette comes to the rescue, controls the tigers the duplicity of Barlow is discovered with the help of a tiger and the lovers are reunited.