We see the meeting of Lizzie, the progress of her love for Wrayburn, the introduction to Bradley Headstone and his growing jealousy, Lizzie's escape from London and attempt to hide herself so that Wrayburn shall not find her. We see the little doll's dressmaker, her friend, give Wrayburn the address. We see him find her, followed by Headstone and finally Headstone's attack upon Wrayburn and the lock-keeper, whose suspicions have been aroused by Headstone's dress, which is a duplicate of his own, following him and witnessing the crime. We see Lizzie's rescue of the unconscious Wrayburn as he goes down the river with the tide. Headstone's terrible death as he and the lock-keeper struggle beside the canal and eventually, locked in each other's embrace, plunge in together. And last of all, we see Wrayburn's awakening to the fact that he really loves the girl and there is a happy ending.
—Moving Picture World synopsis