Shortly after the engagement of John Brown and Hope Avery is announced, he receives an offer of a fine position in South America. She demurs at his going, but he overcomes her objections and after a tender farewell, leaves her with the promise to return within a year and make her his wife. Philip Lane is injured in an auto accident near the Avery home, and Hope discovers him. She has him taken to her home and during his convalescence, he falls deeply in love with her. When Lane proposes, she tells him of her absent fiancé, and he decides to leave at once. Meanwhile John prospers in South America. His roommate, whose name happens to be John Brown, is weak and sickly, and finally becomes threatened with consumption. John gets leave of absence, and, sending no word, he joyfully starts for home, to surprise Hope. Disguised as an old sailor, he approaches his sweetheart's home, only to find her saying farewell to Lane and hear him ask Hope, "If the man you are bound to were dead, could you love me?" She answers yes, and John staggers at the blow. Lane leaves the place. After a terrible mental struggle, he goes back to South America, and finding young John Brown dead, he sends notice and identification papers to the home newspapers. Later he receives a newspaper announcing Hope's marriage to Lane.