Arthur Grennell, the son of a wealthy manufacturer, is one of the leaders in his class at college. Hilton, an old scientist, interested in the welfare of the poor, visits the college with his daughter, Mignon, and delivers a lecture to the students. Mignon meets Arthur Grennell, and later a strong attachment grows up between them. Lyell, the head of an organization whose avowed object is to injure the rich members of society, tries to interest the old scientist in his cause, and finally succeeds in convincing him that the only way to secure justice from the rich for the weak is to adopt stern and cruel methods. Hilton joints the society, and later Arthur, not knowing the real aim of the organization, joins it, thinking it to he merely for charitable purposes. Arthur later learns to his surprise that the organization is one that hands out sentence of death to its enemies, and that same evening he is commanded to execute this sentence to an enemy. He refuses, and escapes. Lyell becomes manager of an out-of-town factory, and takes Hilton and his daughter, Mignon, with him to the little town. At the foundry where Lyell and Hilton are employed is a great magnet which lifts several tons of heavy iron from barges in the river and deposits them in the factory yard. Lyell, who is employed to handle this magnet, learns that a number of wealthy men, among them Arthur and his father, are to visit the foundry, and he plans to drop the iron rails upon the visitors. The plan would have been successful had it not been for Mignon who sees Lyell, and jumps into the little car and stops the machinery in a fierce struggle with Lyell. Hilton, upon learning the mean character of Lyell, and the evil nature of the organization, willingly leaves it, while Arthur wins the girl.
