Dick Vanderfelt, scion of a wealthy family, is a student at the Stamford University. Deeply in love with Dora, daughter of a chemist, he advances large sums of money to her father in order that he can carry out experiments on a new and highly destructive explosive powder. Dora does not know that Dick is befriending her father; her affection for Dick is inspired by real love. Paul Denton, a student in chemistry, a fellow student at Stamford, a conscienceless chap and woeful flirt, has had a disastrous love affair with Ann Bludge, and has cast her off. Ann’s brother, learning of his sister’s plight, vows to kill Denton. Dora’s father, when his experiments prove valuable, arranges to show it to the government, and through Dick sends a specimen to Denton to be proved. Denton, discovering the value of the new explosive, plots to marry Dora himself and gain control of the explosive. When Dora’s father receives word that the government had accepted his discovery he is overcome and dies. Dora is now sole possessor of the secrets. Ann Bludge, learning of her brother’s threat, goes to the college dormitory to warn Denton. Denton, when someone approaches, places Ann in Dick’s room, where she is discovered by an official. Dick is expelled from school and disinherited by his father. To escape the disgrace, he arranges with Brown, a no-account, to exchange names for two weeks. Brown is a deserter from the army and Dick, assuming the name, is arrested and sent back to the barracks at Angel’s Island. At the barracks he sees Dora and Denton in each other’s company. Sending for Ann Bludge, Dick finds Dora and learns that Denton, and not Dick, was the cause of Ann’s downfall. Ann’s brother later catches Denton trying to steal the explosive from the barrack safe. A terrific fight ensues, with the resultant arrest and conviction of Denton, the exoneration of Dick and the happy consummation of the dream of Dick and Dora’s life.