James Brown, a young bank cashier, his wife and child, are living happily together until one evening a friend calls Brown and invites him to a club. He reluctantly accepts the invitation, telling his wife that he will be home early. Upon reaching the club Brown is invited to play a game of poker. He hesitates, saying that he does not understand the game. Finally his friend persuades him and consenting he plays, winning a large stake. The game proves to be very interesting and he does not notice the time. Suddenly, realizing how late it is, he jumps to his feet and leaves in haste. Reaching home, his wife scolds him for staying out so late. He tries to square matters by kissing her, she refusing to let him. Brown then shows her the money he has won. She becomes somewhat reconciled but makes him promise never to gamble again. Brown makes the promise, but a few nights later is again at the club. This time Dame Fortune deserts him and he loses all his money. Finally, as a last resort to get back his losses, he stakes his watch and that, too, is lost. Arriving home, again late at night, his wife, who has been waiting up for him, sees the dejected look upon his face and suspects the truth, weeping as though her heart would break. The next day Brown is at work in the bank when he receives a telegram from his friend telling him to be at the club that night as there is to be a “big game” played there. Feeling sure that good luck would come his way, he takes some money from the safe, intending to put it back if he should win. As he is putting the money into his pocket he is discovered and is about to be arrested when his wife and child, who have been sent for, appear. They plead so hard for him that he is released, but is discharged from his position. Now that the “Curse of Gambling” is upon him, he sinks, dragging his wife and child with him into dire poverty, ending in the untimely death of his wife.