- The venal De Witt Clinton forces Byron, a desperately poor young student in his power, to break into the apartment of the dancer Marietta in order to steal letters in her possession that compromise him. In the struggle for the letters, Byron kills Marietta and then escapes. Clinton had wanted to hide his affair with Marietta from Virginia Farrell, the Judge's daughter with whom he is in love. When Clinton learns that his old college chum, attorney William Ramsdell, is also pursuing Virginia, he drugs the attorney, ruins his reputation and then marries the heartbroken Virginia. Broken in spirits, Ramsdell leads a life of desolation until he finally pulls himself together and becomes the foreman of a lumber camp. One day, Virginia and Clinton arrive to vacation at a nearby lodge, and Ramsdell confronts his tormentor. The ensuing fight between the two men is abruptly terminated by a shot from Byron who, stricken with remorse, revolts against Clinton. Clinton's death then frees Virginia to resume her love for Ramsdell.
- William Ramsdell, working his way through college, has a wealthy but weak-willed friend in De Witt Clinton. At the football game Ramsdell is presented to Judge Farrell and his daughter, Virginia. For the holidays, Clinton returns to his father, who threatens to disown his son should he marry Marietta, a cabaret dancer. Clinton agrees to break off his relations with Marietta. Minna Byron awaits the approach of starvation. Her husband, unable to get work, is persuaded to help pull off a crooked job. Marietta shows Clinton letters mentioning marriage. Clinton catches Byron breaking into the house. When Byron pleads for mercy, Clinton agrees to free him on condition that he get the letters from Marietta's desk. Byron gets the letters, but Marietta covers him with a revolver. In the struggle that ensues, Marietta is shot. Byron escapes, gives the letters to Clinton, and receives one hundred dollars. The case is pronounced a suicide. Returning home, Bryon finds his wife dead. Several years late Ramsdell makes a speech, which so impresses ex-Judge Farrell that he takes Ramsdell into his law firm as a partner. Mrs. Farrell looks on Clinton as eligible for Virginia, but the girl prefers Ramsdell. Clinton recognizes the Farrell butler as Byron. Clinton insinuates to Virginia that ugly stories had been circulated about Ramsdell. At a weekend party, Clinton has Byron drug Ramsdell's tea, and after Ramsdell has gone to his room Byron injects a drug Into Ramsdell's arm, then puts the hypodermic needle under Ramsdell's pillow. Locking the door from the inside, Byron leaves through the window. The next morning Ramsdell's door is broken down, and Farrell finds the hypodermic needle, Ramsdell thinks it a joke, but is horror-stricken when he cannot convince his friends he is not addicted to the drug habit. The last blow falls when Virginia cannot believe his denial. Broken in spirit, Ramsdell finds the public favor turned against him. When he reads of Virginia's engagement to Clinton, he takes to drink and goes rapidly downhill. Later, a sudden hope causes him to rush from a saloon. He hurries to a railroad, and two days later stumbles into a lumber camp. Virginia takes up the broken threads of her life again and marries Clinton. Returning from their honeymoon, Clinton realizes Virginia avoids him. Ramsdell stays at the lumber camp, and in due time he is made manager. Nearby, Clinton and Virginia are spending the summer. While tramping through the woods Virginia is overtaken by a storm. She seeks shelter. As the door is opened she finds herself face to face with Ramsdell. The storm over, Virginia returns to her lodge wearing Ramsdell's coat. Questioned by Clinton, she says the coat belongs to a lumberman. Clinton has Byron follow Virginia. Overwhelmed by their love, Virginia and Ramsdell are in a tender embrace, with Byron outside the window. Clinton denounces Virginia when she returns, almost killing her in his rage. Byron rushes to Ramsdell's cabin, confessing Clinton's part in his downfall. Ramsdell goes to Clinton, revolver in hand. Clinton pleads for his life. Overcome by a feeling of disgust Ramsdell is about to leave, but as his back is turned Clinton leaps on him. A fight follows, as Clinton is about to hit Ramsdell with a heavy bracket a shot is fired, and Clinton falls, dead. Virginia finds Ramsdell bending over her husband's body. Two lumbermen hurry in, but finding none of the chambers in Ramsdell's revolver empty he is not apprehended. Virginia, remembering Byron's hatred, gives them a clue. Rushing out they see Byron running through the woods, and then hurling himself from a cliff. Virginia and Ramsdell, with all obstacles cleared away, face life together with hope and love.
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