- After his son Chadwick returns home from college, factory owner Joshua Anson expects him to marry a woman of wealth. Much to his father's chagrin, Chadwick falls in love with factory girl Mary McClintock. Anson attempts to break up the romance by framing Mary in a compromising situation, but she outfoxes him and marries Chadwick. Not to be defeated, Anson offers his daughter-in-law $100,000 to divorce his son, but Mary outfoxes him once again by accepting the money, getting a divorce, and then remarrying Chadwick. Mary's last trick wins her father-in-law's respect and he finally offers the couple his blessings.—Pamela Short
- Joshua Anson came to America from Scotland, and by hard work became the owner of a large ribbon mill. He loved his money, his power, his position, but better than all these, he loved his son, Chadwick, and aimed to give him the advantages of wealth and education. Returning from college Chadwick is attracted to Mary McClinton, who is employed in the mill and is the daughter of the oldest employee. Anson tells Chadwick the day he chooses any one of the several girls of prominent social position, he will come into control of the Anson fortune. Chadwick decides he has been loafing too long, and goes to work in the office of the mill. Anson is pleased. Most of Chadwick's time is occupied in watching Mary and protecting her from the unwelcome advances of George Baggot, his father's secretary. McClinton considers Willie McDonald, another mill worker, a suitable match for his daughter. While Willie is visiting Mary one evening, she slips away to meet Chadwick at the skating pond. Willie on his way home sees Mary with Chadwick, and returning to McClinton, withdraws his offer of marriage. McClinton goes to the pond and after threatening Chadwick not to trifle with his little girl, takes Mary home. The next day, Mr. and Mrs. Barker, with their daughter. Evelyn, come to the mill. Evelyn is the girl Anson has selected for his son. McClinton tells Anson Chadwick has been trifling with his daughter, and that it must be stopped. When Anson's efforts to prevent their meeting fail, he orders Baggot to find cause for which he might discharge Mary. Walter Green is promised five hundred dollars for pulling off what he is told is to be a joke on Mary. He pays court to the unsuspecting girl, and to make Chadwick jealous, she accepts Green's attentions. When she refuses to reject the stranger's suit. Chadwick leaves her in a rage. The following Sunday she snubs him in his father's presence. Mary accompanies Baggot and Green on an automobile trip. The car breaks down and they are compelled to repair to a roadhouse. While luncheon is being served Baggot drugs Mary's coffee. Mary sees this in a small pocket mirror. Baggot leaves to phone Anson, who starts out for the roadhouse. Mary substitutes her cup for Green's, pretends to be overcome, and is carried to a bedroom where she makes her escape through a window. Baggot leaves, fearing Anson will learn that it is a frame-up. Green falls into a stupor. Anson arrives and finds Green, whom he believes to be drunk. The innkeeper, fearing the law, denies that a girl accompanied Green. On his return, Anson dismisses Baggot. Meanwhile Mary reaches home, where Chadwick is waiting and they elope that night. McClinton returns and finds Mary's note which asks him not to worry about her. He believes the worst when he learns Chadwick went with his daughter, and erases her name from the family Bible. When she returns with a marriage license, he is surprised. Anson asks Mary what amount she wants for restoring his son's freedom. She is indignant, but when he tells her he will disown them both if she refuses to divorce him, she agrees to a separation, stipulating that Anson pay all costs and give her one hundred thousand dollars. Anson advances her enough money to go to Reno and taunts Chadwick with the fact that his wife has proved how much she loved him when she was willing to sell him to the highest bidder. Six months later, Mary returns with the divorce decree and Anson gives her the money. Mary immediately proposes to Chadwick and when he realizes what she has done, he takes her in his arms. They face Anson, and Mary tells him he forced her to divorce his son by taking away everything from them, but now that she is wealthy they are independent. Feeling that she is more than a match for him as an adversary, Anson relents. Mary's father enters and there is a complete reconciliation.
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