The son of a poor inn keeper decides to leave his home to seek his fortunes in a foreign clime. Bidding his mother good-bye, she puts a locket around his neck as a remembrance. Tears roll by and the folks have not heard from their son. In the meantime, the son has struck it rich, but he has neglected his parents, and in a quiet moment, he remembers the locket his mother gave him. He desires to return home, but to surprise his parents, he writes them he is coming home poor instead of rich. Tears have changed his appearance and on his return his parents do not recognize him. He rents a room from them without telling who he is. In paying for his room, he shows a large sum of money, which tempts the mother to steal, so she can have money to welcome her poor son's return. She enters his room and kills him. She then discovers it was her own son by the locket hanging around his neck. The sheriff arrives and takes her away. While pleading with the sheriff, she awakes and finds it all a dream. The son comes down and tells her who he is.