John Allen, a building contractor possessed of orthodox ideals of the standard of womanhood, finds his theories exploded by his sister's deportment; his mother is also modernized and a sore disappointment. His confidence in women in general is shaken, and in business or social life he seems to be destined to live the life of a hermit. Grey and Son, wishing to underbid Allen on a contract, send their stenographer Agnes to get a position in his office and steal the bid. Allen, disappointed in women, believes Agnes different; they fall in love, and Agnes decides to break her word to Grey. Allen sees her with Grey, jumps to conclusions, and tells her that no woman is trustworthy, which forces her to keep her and take a carbon copy of the bid. She discovers later that in her hurry she put the carbon in wrong and made no copy, and she confesses all to Allen. Her frankness and full confession cause him to experience a change of heart and the story concludes with the two principals in a fond embrace.