Hysterical with grief at her husband's intrigue with Ann Bogart, an opera singer and neighbor, Marion Stuart attempts to drown herself, but is rescued by Tim and Mary Bates, the aged caretakers of the Bogart estate. They take her to their cabin nearby and an hour later Marion dies giving birth to a daughter. On learning this, Ann forces the old couple to keep the birth a secret so that she and her son Reginald (Ann is a widow) can eventually inherit Graham Stuart's fortune. Marion's body is found and buried and Graham becomes a recluse, but after a short time a letter from Ann reaches him. The slender cord of resolve is broken and he is soon at her feet again. Together, they launch forth on a professional musical career, are successful, marry and go to live in Europe. 17 years later, Graham, Ann, and Reginald--now a neurotic young spendthrift--return to America. Reginald meets Marion's daughter Lois, whom everyone supposes to be Tim and Mary's daughter, and attempts to force his attentions on her. He goes from bad to worse--forging checks, gambling wildly--and finally robs and kills Graham and lets old Tim be accused of the crime. But young newspaper reporter Bobby Sharp discovers several clues that put him on the right track and also prove that Lois is Marion Stuart's missing daughter. Reginald is cornered and, in an intensely dramatic scene, forced to confess the murder. Ann is then confronted with similar evidence, and while fatally ill she confesses the whole truth before she dies. Lois is reinstated in her rightful position as Graham's heiress, Bobby marries her, and the old caretakers, Tim and Mary, are made comfortable for the rest of their lives.