Vera Ronceval has been brought up in seclusion by her father, Amos Ronceval, a recluse. One day she meets Orthen Owen, an artist, and they fall in love. When Amos learns of this, he forbids Arthen to see his daughter, and in his rage suffers an attack of heart disease. Dying, he commits Vera to the care of her cousin, Mr. Ronceval, a lawyer. Mr. Ronceval takes Vera away with him to his city home. Arthen, unable to find further trace of Vera, falls upon evil ways, neglecting his art and finding forgetfulness in dissipation. Reduced to poverty, he makes a contract with Lee Varick, famous as an artist, whereby Arthen is to paint pictures, signing Varick's name to them. Varick has acquired his reputation by this traffic in the work of others. In the meantime, Vera has been living with her cousin, Mr. Ronceval, who is a friend of Varick's, and who greatly desires a match between Varick and Vera, Although Vera has never forgotten Arthen, she has, to please her cousin, conditionally consented to an engagement with Varick. One day Vera meets Arthen in his fallen condition, and learning the story of his fall, she tells him that she still loves him, and that she will break off her engagement with Varick. At the same time Arthen, obtaining a new lease upon his manhood, seeks Varick out to return the check just given him for the sale of his name and work to Varick. Vera calls upon Varick, tells him that she knows of his mode of obtaining fame and that she will not marry him. Varick, believing that he has her in his power, attempts to commit an assault upon her. Just then, Arthen, on his way to return Varick's check, hears Vera's cries for help and breaks into Varick's studio. He knocks Varick down and rescues Vera. He then takes her to her cousin, who, upon learning the whole story, gives his consent to the marriage of Vera and Arthen.