Plot

Mathew King is the wealthy owner of a vineyard. He is about to be married to Flora Kellette, a pampered and petted girl. Her mother has bred in her a desire for expensive things, and she urges the marriage, for King is rich. Flora imagines herself in love with Frank Wolff. Frank is poor and she consequently refuses him. Soon after the wedding, Flora begins to find fault with the home her husband has given her. Flora, to lighten the dull life, invites her friends to week-end parties. The automobile parties overrun the place. Wolff, naturally, is a member of these parties, and Flora sees considerable of him. King sees them together one evening and learns that his wife married him for his money and that she is in love with Wolff. King remains silent about what he has heard. His brother, Alan, a young business man is out visiting him and he discovers King in his grief. King finally tells his brother of his suspicions and of his determination to make his wife pay in full, and to uphold her part of the establishment as a wife should. His first step is to dismiss the guests his wife has at the house. Flora is chagrined and furious. King then dismisses the servant and informs Flora that it is up to her to do the housework and cook for him. The girl, at first rebels, and takes to her room. She even goes so far as to pack, intending to return to her mother; but she remembers that her mother is now entirely depending upon her for support. She finally submits in a grudging manner. Mrs. Kellete, meanwhile, hears of the treatment her daughter is receiving, and rushes out to interfere. King terminates her interview with him abruptly. She rushes to her daughter again, and brings up the question of money. Mrs. Kellette needs a fresh supply. King interrupts the conversation by explaining that he is ruined. Mrs. Kellette urges her daughter to come with her, but Flora, disgusted with her mother's selfishness, refuses to do so. King takes his wife to live in a neighboring village, where he goes to work as a common vineyard hand. Wolff, meanwhile, has come into some money. He has heard Flora's treatment, and goes in search of her, intending to urge her to leave King and go with him. King returns home one night to find his wife entertaining Wolff, who has asked Flora to elope with him. Both are fearful when King enters. For the moment King, neither by sign or look, lets on that he has overheard, and smiles and talks as if nothing had happened. Later in the evening King evidently prepares to leave the house, simply saying that he does not know when he will return. When King steps outside the door, Wolff moves quickly to her side. She shoves him away and rushes to the door with a cry to call her husband back. King hears the cry and knows that his wife has finally given her love to him. He turns back and takes his wife in his arms. Back in the room, he bears down upon Wolff and is only prevented from manhandling him by Flora. During this time, King, believing that his wife was learning to love him, and remembering her criticism of his former home, had a new house built. The story ends with him introducing the girl to the new place.—Moving Picture World synopsis