A young mother loses her little son and seeks to recover him from the hands of death. The pitying angel of life guides her through storm and over obstacles, until at last she stands in the presence of the Grim Reaper and passionately pleads with him to restore her loved one. For answer he shows her a marvelous spring, in whose limpid depths the future can be seen, and the life of the boy, as ordained by Fate, is shown to the mother. The youth is shown arriving at manhood and becoming involved in disgraceful difficulties, which lead to his suicide. Death then stops the clock of life and asks the mother if she would have her son fulfill such a life. She replies. "No!" and ceases her pleadings.