Hughie is one of those fat, good-natured country boys, who is a rival for the band of a girl. His rival is a thin, lanky youth by the name of Zeb. Hughie falls from the good graces of the girl when he falls out of the apple tree trying to get an apple for the girl. Zeb happens along and, fortunately for him, happens to have an apple, which he hands to the girl. They leave Hughie sitting on the ground. A show hits town, starring one of those ham actors. Zeb gets a couple of tickets and takes the girl, Lucy, to see the show. Lucy flirts with the leading actor, who responds. Lucy gets Zeb to take her to the back door after the show. The actor comes out, he recognizes the girl and invites her to have an ice-cream soda. She accepts. They both exit, leaving Zeb in the same frame of mind as they left Hughie. Lucy falls for the cheap flattery of the actor, who is swelled up over his success and inveigles Lucy to elope with him. While all this is going on, Hughie, who has it in for Zeb for stealing his girl, meets an old friend, a prize-fighter, who is training for a bout. He receives boxing instructions from him and becomes quite handy in the art of self-defense. He goes looking for Zeb but happens to come across the actor planning to elope with Lucy. He makes up his mind to throttle the scheme. He overhears the actor engage a cabby to meet him after the show and drive Lucy and he to the station. Hughie is there on time, and when the actor and the girl enter the carriage, he quickly jumps on the seat, whips up the horses and drives off. Instead of driving them to the station, he drives them into the country to a lonely spot, and opens the carriage door. The actor indignantly demands an explanation and he gets it in the shape of a good licking from Hughie, which Lucy witnesses. Lucy, by this time realizes her escape from the villain. She gratefully thanks Hughie for rescuing her from an awful fate and becomes his only own.