Richard Garvie, a prosperous young boatman, owns a small pleasure craft on which he frequently takes his wife and son for short outings. Mabel, his wife, objects strenuously to her husband's disregard of the appearance of the boat. She holds Herbert Wayne, one of his business rivals up to him as a model and asks him why he doesn't buy a new boat and a fine yachting coat with brass buttons. Finally, after working herself up into a terrible fit of temper, Mabel vows never to set her feet in the dirty old tub again. To take a Sunday School class on an outing, Garvie's and Wayne's boats are both engaged. Mabel takes her little son, and true to her promise, refuses to go into her husband's boat. Instead she and her boy go on Wayne's speedier and more up-to-date craft. Suddenly the faster boat is found to be on fire. A dingy is lowered and filled with passengers while Mabel runs down to the cabin for her boy. The smoke pours out, and the boat pushes off without her. After they have left the ship, the crew of the dingy realize that Mabel has been left, but dare not return and endanger the whole boat load. Dick Garvie sees his wife's peril through a glass, and despite the protests of his passengers hurries to her aid. Mabel fastens a life-belt on her little son, throws him overboard, and sinks fainting on the deck. The boy is picked up by the other life-boat. Dick nearing his rival's boat, plunges overboard, climbs aboard the burning craft, picks up the unconscious Mabel and swims back to his own boat. In the last scene, Richard and Mabel are shown at the wharf. He steps into his boat, and reappears, dressed in a blue coat with brass buttons. She smiles at him a little wistfully, and then coming closer asks him softly to forgive her. Then, with the boy in her arms, she steps aboard the once despised boat.