Charles Wright visited the mountain resort with his son. Here he met Mrs. Mary Horton, a handsome widow, and the meeting produced emotions long silent in the old hearts of both. To enliven the situation we find Fred, Wright's son a worthless young cub, falling in love with the daughter of Mrs. Horton. Vivian, for the sake of her brother, who is a fast friend of Fred's permits the attentions for a time. About this time we are permitted an insight into the ways and life of Fred. His acts are contemptible; he possesses no morals to speak of. He even takes advantage of his position to gamble with and win a large sum of money from his friend, Phillip, Vivian's brother. The I.O.U. he secures is used to hold over the boy's head when the attentions to his sister are resented. But Fred carries his attentions to the point of insult one evening. Phillip observes this and flies into a passion. There is a fight. Fred escapes in his canoe. Phillip follows in another and from where she stands, Vivian sees the two men fight in the water. Fred sinks. Phillip returns to his sister and, fearful of punishment, they decide to keep Fred's death a secret. Winn his son does not return, Mr. Wright employs a private detective from the city. The detective, Noble, arrives and is introduced as an old friend. Quietly he takes up the work of learning the whereabouts of the dead boy. He has the lake dragged. The body is brought up and in the clothing is found the I.O.U. slips, evidence that points to Phillip as the murderer. Vivian, meantime, has been the companion, more or less, of the detective. It is not long before the young people find themselves in love. It is a trying situation for both Vivian and her brother, Phillip. However, Vivian is determined that Phillip shall not be captured and she takes steps to secure the evidence that has been secured against him. In order to accomplish this, she dresses in boy's clothes and, when the night is dark, starts out on her mission. She is shadowed by the detective who believes her a man, the real murderer of young Fred. Sneaking up behind her he fastens the handcuffs upon her. Then it is that he learns her identify, and it is then that the girl, to protect her brother, assumes the guilt of killing Fred. There follows a battle of emotions in the heart of the detective. Should he turn the girl loose in response to his heart, or should he do his duty and force her to stand trial? His love triumphs. He turns the girl loose, determined to never see her again. Meantime, Phillip's innocence is proved by an eyewitness to the fight in the canoes. Phillip gives himself up, confident that the court will be lenient with him. At the end of the story Phillip is taken to the city for trial and we leave to the imagination of the spectators the final conclusion, suggesting to them, however, that older folks will marry and that Noble and Vivian will become reconciled.
