Tisdale and his lovely young wife are about to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary. Tisdale discovers his wife passionately kissing a love letter and upon obtaining possession of it, reads: "Ten o'clock at the old elm," and signed, "Your lover." Tisdale is frantic with jealousy. He writes a note to his wife telling her that he has discovered her infidelity. He finds her sleeping, ties the note to her bare foot and goes to the old elm to meet his rival, and engage him in mortal combat. It is a dark night and raining. A stray mule has taken refuge under the old elm, and upon the approach of Tisdale moves away. Tisdale rushes after and fires his revolver at the dim shape. His wife having discovered the note arouses the servants, and goes in search of him. All is explained when she tells him that he himself wrote the love letter to her five years ago.