Member of a socially prominent but impoverished family, Mary Ware, is in love with the equally poor Ronald Cliffe, but Mary's mother convinces her to save the family from debt by marrying the wealthy Grey Sands. Ronald is sent to work in the oil fields out West, and Mary, married to a man she doesn't love, is cold to her husband, who then vows revenge. Soon, Ronald returns from the oil fields and when Grey's attempts to choke his wife into submission fail, he decides to frame her sweetheart for robbery. Ronald is arrested and brought to trial for the crime, but is acquitted by Mary's alibi that he had spent the night of the crime with her. Ronald is freed and leaves to seek his fortune, while Mary, whose reputation has been ruined by her testimony, becomes a social outcast. Despairing after losing her job, Mary is at a low point in her life when Ronald returns and the lovers are finally united.
