When Dick Howard comes home to his wife, Dora, somewhat the worse tor liquor, Dora brother’s, Hal Easton, in an attempt to protect her, strikes Dick down with the result that the older man, striking his head against the mantle, is apparently fatally injured. Police and doctors are called in. Dora pleads with Hal to flee, begging him to go for her sake. He makes his escape, and after several experiences, during which time the memory of the fatal blow he has struck becomes more and more an obsession, he falls totally worn-out, into the care of a farmer and his daughter, Nance. Nance takes good care of him, and when he recovers the farmer gives him a place as hired man. Things run smoothly, until Bill Watson, the village bully, resents the apparent friendship between Nance and Hal. He bullies Hal, who raising his arm to strike Watson, is suddenly confronted with a phantasmagorical scene in which he sees himself again strike down his brother-in-law. The vision renders Hal helpless. Bill, calling him a coward, kicks him. The bully’s persecutions become more frequent and Nance herself is led to believe that Hal is a coward. On one occasion, however, Hal, despite the terrifying vision which floats before his eyes, recovers his manhood and puts Bill out of the way. He knows then that the only thing for him to do is to go to the city and give himself up, so writing a note to this effect to Nance, whom he does not dare to see for fear he should weaken, he sets out. In the meantime, the blow which he has given Dick has, after all, proved not fatal, and Dick recovers. He pleads his wife’s forgiveness, which she will not grant until Hal is found and cleared. Dora and Dick set out and after trailing Hal, arrive at Nance’s home ,only to find out that the fugitive had gone the night before. Nance tells what she knows and Dora, realizing that the girl loves Hal, takes her along to the city. There they find Hal; his name is cleared. Dora and Dick become reunited and Nance and Hal come into their own.