Terrorized by Guido, her drunken and brutal father, Marie receives assurance from her dying mother that the Madonna will always protect her. The father reels in just after the mother has expired, too drunk to realize the woman is dead, and finding the whiskey bottle empty, abuses the child. Marie appeals to the image of the Madonna and Guido, in a frenzy of rage, smashes it on the floor. Horrified at the sacrilege, Marie screams, bringing in the neighbors, among them Paul Langrois, a young artist and curio-lover. Paul's sympathy is aroused and he adopts the child. Later, Marie's father, who is ignorant of her whereabouts, sees Paul purchase an expensive silver image of the Madonna. He determines to steal the statue and follows Paul home, planning to return that night and get it. The little statue is put in a prominent place by the worshipful Marie. Paul conceives the idea of painting a picture of the Madonna. He sends for a professional model and she is just donning her costume when Paul is called away on urgent business. He tells her to wait, as he will be back shortly. He is delayed until dark, however, and the model falls asleep in the dressing room. While Marie is performing, her usual devotions before the Madonna, Guido pries open the window and stealthily enters. Marie hears him and as he is about to take the silver Madonna, she grabs his arm with a scream. The door is flung wide and the model, awakened by the scream, stands in her Madonna robes, in a blaze of light. Filled with superstitious terror, the awe-struck man rushes from the place. Marie at first thinks it is the Madonna herself and kneels reverently. The model lifts her up and explains who she is, sympathetically assuring the child she need not feel. Marie feels sure that her mother's words have come true and gratefully offers up a little prayer for her safe deliverance.