- Quincy Adams Sawyer is a young attorney who one day meets a girl in the park and is immediately smitten with her.
- Quincy Adams Sawyer is no more desirous of leaving Boston for Mason's Corner than Obadiah Strout, the town's czar, is anxious to have him. His father has promised Beacon Pettengill to aid Mrs.Putnam in straightening out the estate of her late husband, of which Strout is administrator. And since Strout is suspected of hiding a few bonds, he looks upon the young attorney with distrust. Lindy Putnam, the village vamp, is delighted at the prospect of having Quincy board with them during his stay, and she sets out to conquer him. The evening of his arrival Strout arranges a party for Lindy. She neglects him in favor of Quincy, and Strout's suspicion of the stranger turns to active hatred. Quincy over hears Strout urge Abner Stiles, the blacksmith, to rid the town of his presence. Strout knows that Stiles had committed a murder years ago, and Strout insinuates that Quincy has come to get Stiles. Deacon Pettengill's blind niece, Alice, returns home from Boston. Strout starts malicious gossip about Sawyer and Lindy and carries it to Mrs.Putnam. In order to prevent its spread, Quincy leaves the Putnam home and goes to the Pettengills. Lindy is furious at his leaving. Quincy meets Alice at her home, and remembers having met her in Boston. She recalls their casual meeting, and a friendship begins between them. One day, while riding with Alice, Quincy is stopped by Stiles who provokes a fist fight at Strout's instigation. Quincy's boxing skill wins the fight, and his opponent beats a sullen retreat. Knowing Lindy's hatred of Alice, for having taken Quincy away from her, Strout suggests that Lindy invite Alice and Quincy to a picnic across the river. Strout obtains Stile's aid in his plans. Stiles watches for the start of Alice, Lindy and Quincy, while Strout returns to his office. Quincy follows Strout and warns him to return the bonds. The girls meanwhile have gone to the place at which Quincy said he would meet them. Stiles hides in the bushes, unaware that Quincy is not with them. Stiles sees three figures pass onto the ferry, and assumes that the ferry bey is Quincy. After they get aboard he hacks the steel cable apart, intending to send all three to their death. The ferry boy and Lindy jump overboard and wade ashore, leaving Alice helpless on the vessel. Lindy runs for help and meets Quincy and Deacon Pettengill, Quincy dashes for the bridge and climbs aboard the ferry, gathering the terror-stricken Alice in his arms. Facing death, he tells her that he loves her. When the ferry is wedged among the rocks at the edge of the falls, Quincy picks up the fainting girl and leaps to the bank. As she regains consciousness, she opens her eyes and discovers that the shock has restored her sight. The deacon believing that a-lice has gone to her death, rushes to his home, grabs a revolver and goes to Strout's office. It dawns upon Stiles that Strout has driven him to murder for his own ends. He attacks Strout and as the deacon bursts into the room, Strout lies dead on the floor and his assailant has disappeared. Quincy marries Alice.
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