John Manley one day learns to his great sorrow that Caroline Hastings, whom he was going to ask to be his wife, is already betrothed to another. Five years later he is summoned to the bedside of a dying friend, who asks him to take care of his daughter. He promises, takes her to his home and places her in the care of his housekeeper. The girl awakens Manley from his moody state, and, one night as she is playing and singing at the piano, be impulsively kisses her, but retreats, embarrassed for what he has done. One day Caroline returns to his home and tries to awaken his old love for her, but is met by coldness. As she is pleading with him, Ethel, Manley's protégée, comes upon them. Thinking that she has stumbled upon a love scene, she goes to her room and is caught by Manley writing a note of her leave-taking. As he is reading the letter she notices the photo of Caroline lying torn to pieces on the floor, and Manley tells her what she has already guessed.