Kamura, a poor Japanese fisherman, has arranged to have bis daughter marry Owaru. against her will. Kenjiro, son of a wealthy Japanese merchant, is in a wreck at sea and is washed on the wreckage near Mira's home. She swims out to sea and rescues him. Later they fall in love, and her engagement with Owaru is sealed. Kenjiro is appointed "One Year Godmaster," a Japanese custom, which, although quite an honor, required him to live the life of a hermit for one year, and if any calamity comes to the community it is supposed to be caused by some negligence on the part of the Godmaster to his religious duties. A ship from Asia brings the plague to this village and the superstitious people believe their sufferings to be a visitation from the Gods. Owaru, fired with jealousy, fans the fires of suspicion against Kenjiro. telling the lower classes that he is false to his trust. Chosing a night that Kenjiro's religious duties compel him to keep an all night vigil, Owaru drugs his fond with a sleeping potion, and Kenjiro is found by the people to be false to his trust. He is later put into prison and sentenced to be flogged to death. Believing Owaru guilty of having drugged Kenjiro, Mira determines to impersonate one of Owaru's ancestors and play upon his religious fears, hoping that he will confess. She wrecks Owaru's hut and leaves a note of warning which frightens him. While running he falls over a precipice. Dying, he confesses to having drugged Kenjiro.