The old miser, living in a tenement, keeps his savings in an earthen idol. The janitor of the building suspects that the old man has concealed wealth, but is unable to locate if. Finally the miser dies and the janitor disposes of the idol to a dealer in antiques. Carter, a bank clerk, is given to speculation, and in response to his wife's earnest appeal, be promises to give up the precarious practices, which are jeopardizing his position and happiness. However, the young man is weak and breaks his promise. While shopping the wife buys the idol and brings it home. Carter is called upon for margins and takes his wife's jewels to meet the demand. Later in the day he receives a second telegram in the wife's presence, and the sacrificing woman brings out the jewel box, only to discover that she has been robbed by her husband. Fearing that Carter will become desperate, his wife removes the cartridges from the revolver which he keeps in a drawer. That night a burglar visits the house. Carter goes after the intruder with the revolver, but the crook discovers that the weapon is unloaded and attacks the bank clerk. Mrs. Carter rushes to the scene and fells the burglar with the idol which she grasps from the mantel. The earthen image is shattered and a fortune lies at the feet of the young couple. As the burglar is led to prison, the clerk assures his wife that he will profit by his experience and they happily make their plans for the future.