While slumming in Normandy, Andre Lesar, a Parisian dilettante, develops an interest in Marcine Dufrene and so convinces her husband Pierre that if he moves to Paris, he can become a great artist. Then, while Pierre preoccupies himself with still life, Andre goes after Marcine, although he takes time out from his pursuit to arrange a showing of Pierre’s work. Parisian high society laughs uproariously at the amateurish paintings, and Pierre, suddenly aware that he has been made the butt of a joke, vows revenge. When he catches Marcine and Andre together, Pierre disbelieves his wife when she truthfully claims to have resisted Andre’s advances, and he attacks his ex-benefactor. Leaving him for dead, Pierre then tries to drown himself. The police stop him, however, after which a recovered, repentant Andre apologizes, and Pierre and Marcine are reconciled.