(Reel 1) In all Ireland there existed no more beautiful estate than Tore Cregan, the baronial home of the Cregans. But with all its natural beauty, a shadow, in the form of a heavy mortgage, hung over the estate. Mrs. Cregan, therefore, laid careful plans that her son, Hardress should marry Anne Chute, whose fortune would lift the indebtedness of the family. But her plans were shattered when Hardress met Eily O'Connor, "The Colleen Bawn." Hardress wooed the simple maid and quietly married her. It was easy to persuade her to keep the secret; she did not aspire to a place by his side in the world. Knowing nothing of the nuptials, Mrs. Cregan resented the attentions of Kyrle Daly to Anne and informed her son, who shocked her by his indifference. Squire Corrigan, the holder of the mortgage, offered Mrs. Cregan two alternatives before he foreclosed: she must either marry him or secure Anne's written consent to marry Hardress. He told her of Hardress' meetings with the Colleen, which the young man admitted, making no mention of his marriage. Danny Mann, with his misshapen body, was a faithful servant of Hardress, and formed a clumsy plan of taking a note to Anne, given him by Eily for Hardress, and stated it was for Daly, whom he was to row across the lake to meet the Colleen. Anne's confidence in Daly was therefore shaken. Myles, a young rustic, who also loved Eily, paid her a visit, along with Father Tom. Hardress came in, while all but the Colleen were in a back room, and begged her for the marriage certificate. In her great love .she delivered it to him for destruction, but Myles stepped in and secured a return of the paper. When Hardress had departed. Father Tom had Eily promise him solemnly that the marriage lines would never leave her hands again. (Reel 2) Danny Mann, meeting his master after the latter's ineffectual interview with Eily, tells Hardress, if he will give him his glove as a token, he will make away with the Colleen. This infuriates Hardress so that he handles his poor servant unmercifully. Nonetheless, the devoted Danny goes to Mrs. Cregan, before whom he lays his plan, and secures the glove, thinking she has influenced her son to give his approval, whereas she has taken it without the knowledge of Hardress. Danny now meets the Colleen and tells her she is to meet her husband that night in a lonely spot on the lake. Thither he conducts her, and, taking her by surprise, throws her into the water. Myles, who secretly conducts a whiskey still nearby, heard the commotion and taking his gun, hurries to the scene, where he shoots Danny and rescues the Colleen. (Reel 3) Danny manages to crawl to his home, and, burning with fever, becomes delirious. In his ravings he tells of the supposed murder of the Colleen and Sheelah, his mother, hurries out to secure Father Tom. Squire Corrigan, the moneylender, happens in and secrets himself, overhearing and writing down the confession which Danny makes to Father Tom. Old Sheelah finds the torn and water-soaked cloak of the Colleen at the shore and shows it to Hardress, both concluding that Eily has committed suicide. There is now no impediment in the way of Hardress' forced marriage with Anne, who has paid the mortgage. He confesses to her that he was married to the Colleen. Father Tom, thinking Myles knows something of the affair, goes to the latter's hut and there finds Eily, who has escaped death by Myles' timely rescue. Corrigan gathers the soldiers, takes Sheelah as a witness and marches to the place where Hardress and Anne are about to be married. He confronts Hardress with Danny's confession, which reads that Danny committed the deed at his master's instigation and received Hardress' glove as a token of agreement. The heart-broken mother' confesses that it was she who delivered the glove. Just then the door opens and Father Tom and Myles lead in the Colleen. She comes to the waiting arms of her husband, who now openly acknowledges her. The marriage ceremony with Anne is stopped and the plotting Corrigan is humbled.