This picture tells of Leila Austen, a wealthy girl, who leaves Halsey Brent, a young suitor, to marry Tom Carter, a mining engineer. Mrs. Austen was more than merely a rich mother; she was a good mother, devoting her life to Leila's growth. Rather than interfere with what seemed the choicest desire of their daughter's heart, her parents finally consented to Leila's marriage to Tom, though preferring Brent as a son-in-law. Mr. Austin even gave Leila a ten-thousand-dollar check as a wedding present, in order that she might continue to enjoy the luxuries to which she was accustomed. Leila and Tom establish themselves happily near the mine that Tom owned and was developing, and Leila sank her ten thousand in her husband's property. In return she received stock certificates. Tom's mine, through lack of development, failed, and Leila's parents, indignant at the sight of their daughter doing real work, dragged her back to the city with them. Then Leila, thinking to help Tom, offered to sell her stock to Brent whom she permitted to see her often. Brent learned Tom's mine was at last a success, and failing to inform Leila of this, bought the stock at a ridiculously low price. Just after she delivered the certificate to Brent, Leila learned of his deception. Brent refused to return the stock except on impossible conditions. Then Tom entered the house, unknown to either Leila or Brent. He heard details of the transaction that left him bitterly suspicious, details that goaded him to madness, and resulted in tragedy. Was Tom guilty? Was it Leila? Was it her mother? Was it Brent? Or were they all guilty? The picture raises this question.