While painting the demure little model, Vera, who sat for him day after day, Reginald Spencer was unconscious of the fact that she was falling very deeply in love with him. Success comes Reginald's way and he has a commission to paint the portrait of a handsome society girl. Between the artist and this lady something like affection springs up and poor little Vera finds herself out in the cold. But with feminine intuition she is not long in discovering that she has a rival, whom she identifies with the original of the portrait that Spencer is lavishing so much time on. There is to be a private view of the portrait in the artist's studio. The society girl, her mother and several friends arrive, only to discover, when Spencer draws aside the curtain, concealing the masterpiece from view, that it has been hacked and cut out of all recognition. Of course, the society people desert him on this terrible catastrophe and he is left in the depths of misery. Poor little Vera creeps in to confess that she was guilty of the destruction of the picture and avows love of him as her reason for it. Spencer repulses the girl and off she goes in her despair to commit suicide. In the nick of time Spencer appears to prevent her mad act, and realizing how much she loves him and he loves her, a happy ending is assured.