John Thorpe and his wife, people of once large means, are very desirous of bringing about a marriage between their daughter, Helen, and a young millionaire named Morton. The demands of creditors press heavily upon the much-distressed Mr. Thorpe, and in response to his earnest pleas his daughter consents to the engagement. The Mortons call on the Thorpes to ratify the engagement, and invite them to a sumptuous betrothal party at their magnificent home. At the outset of this function, Helen begins to regret the engagement. While showing the Thorpes through the mansion they enter the picture gallery, and Helen is deeply attracted to a portrait, which she learns is that of her fiancé's grandfather. Later in the evening young Tom Thorpe engages in singing and dancing with some of the younger people. Helen steals away into the picture gallery and sits looking at the old portrait, which presents her ideal of a lover. She talks to the portrait, "Oh, why can't some good fairy send me a lover like you?" A fairy does appear and in response to the statement of her grievances, the fairy endows Helen with two wishes; the first wish will bring you your ideal lover, the second one will send him away. The fairy fades away. Helen calls for her ideal lover, and the picture steps from its frame. The new lover becomes very ardent in his protestation of affection and his manner of doing it is so courtly and refined, that she falls completely under his influence. She becomes cold and indifferent toward Harry in spite of the protests of her parents. He is particularly snobbish to Harry, calls attention to his many unrefined habits and is disagreeable to him. Harry, however, in his good-natured way, bides his time and waits for the finality. The picture lover complains of the abandon of modern social ways, of the glaring vulgarity in dress, and of the dangerous liberties permitted young women. Disillusioned, she makes the second wish given her by the fairy and the picture lover is paint and canvas again. The fairy appears again, reads Helen the moral of the story, "Let well enough alone," and she permits Harry to take her in his arms.