A miser lives with his two daughters, Mary and Ellen, in a lonely little hut in the midst of a forest, far away from human beings. Frank Johnson, a young author, is spending his vacation hunting through the forest and by accident happens to be lingering about the spot where the miser has hidden his money. The miser, catching sight of him, suspects him as a thief and fires a shot at him. Johnson falls to the ground wounded, and is later found by Mary, the elder daughter of the miser, who brings him to the house, nurses his wounds and takes care of him. Under her careful attentions, he soon regains his health, but Mary, who has fallen in love with the handsome young author, looks forward with dread to the day when he must take his leave. Johnson has fallen in love with Ellen, the younger sister, and on the day he is to go back to the city, he tells her of his love and begs her to be his wife on his return in a few weeks. Mary, who has quietly entered, overhears the conversation, and her heart is filled with jealousy and sorrow as she listens to Ellen accept his proposal. Johnson takes his leave and Mary succeeds in concealing her emotions. The author arrives in the city and finds that his recent books have met with tremendous success. Many women seek his attentions, but he cannot forget the little girl in the forest who has won his heart, and in due time he returns to claim her. Mary accepts her fate with resignation, and Ellen and Frank are married, neither of them dreaming that Mary is heartbroken.