Plot

When British gentleman Wilfred Denver weds the beautiful Nellie, he earns the undying hatred of Nellie's former sweetheart, Geoffrey Ware. After several years of cozy matrimonial contentment, Denver finds himself heavily in debt.

Wilfred Denver is a happily married father of two. Geoffrey Ware, a romantic rival, decides to ruin Denver. He convinces Denver to bet all his money on a losing horse. Crushed by the loss, Denver allows Ware to take him to an inn and get him drunk. Ware then takes Denver home, and boasts to Denver's wife how he has destroyed her husband. After Ware leaves, Denver, who is still intoxicated, takes a gun and goes to Ware's house, seeking revenge. Meanwhile, Henry Corkett, Ware's clerk, has just stolen money from Ware's safe, and meets Herbert "Spider" Skinner, Elijah Coombes, and some other crooks after the horse race. The crooks rob Corkett, then force him to make a drawing of Ware's library in order to rob Ware. They all proceed to Ware's house, when Denver enters. He is knocked out with chloroform by the crooks. When Ware returns, he is killed by the "Spider," who places his gun in Denver's hand. When Denver awakens and finds himself next to the body, he is convinced he has killed Ware. He returns home, planning to leave the country. When Ware's body is discovered by his servants, they call in Baxter from Scotland Yard. Baxter finds Denver's gun and goes to arrest him. With the help of his servant Jaikes, Denver escapes on a train. Baxter arrives but he is too late to stop the train. Denver finds a suitcase, belonging to a sailor, and changes clothes. He jumps from the train. Moments later, the train is wrecked, and the authorities assume he has been killed in the crash. Denver begins a new life in a western mining town and becomes a prospector.

He amasses a fortune in silver mines. He writes secretly to Jaikes and discovers that his wife and children are now destitute, renting their former home since it has been sold at an auction. The home is now owned by the "Spider," who is making advances on Mrs. Denver. The "Spider" intercepts a letter from Denver to Jaikes, which contains money for Mrs. Denver. He learns that Denver is returning to England under an alias, and orders Coombes to notify him when Denver arrives. Denver meets his daughter, who does not recognize him. He gives her money for the rent. Baxter, who has been shadowing the "Spider," discovers that Denver is also trailing the crook. Once the crooks' hideout is located, Denver overhears Corkett accusing the "Spider" of killing Ware. Denver is discovered and in the ensuing fight, Baxter arrests the "Spider." Denver is exonerated by Corkett's testimony.