Gerald, only son of Mrs. Howe, an aristocratic and wealthy woman, falls in love with, and despite opposition, marries Meg, adopted daughter of Anne, a poor fisherwoman. Mrs. Howe selfishly tries in every way to separate him from Meg. At first she fails, but aided by money, friends and by playing upon his parental love, immediately after an unfortunate quarrel between the young people, Mrs. Howe finally succeeds in weaning her son away from his young bride and securing his consent to get a divorce from her. Gerald's mother keeps from him the fact that Meg has given birth to a child, and divorce proceedings are well underway before Anne arrives in person at the Howe mansion to plead with Gerald to return to his wife and child. On learning the whole story from the straightforward fisherwoman's lips, Gerald begins to understand matters better, and turns against his mother in favor of Meg. He leaves her, a broken woman, and is soon in his wife's arms, while in the end the baby reunites them all in peace and forgiveness.
