Lindsley Ferris, head of a banking house, unthinkingly places an important paper in his desk at home, and causes the blame for its mysterious disappearance to rest upon the shoulders of the cashier, Steele, who is subsequently discharged. Sometime later, Ferris discovers the paper, and, desiring to reinstate Steele, calls at his home only to learn that through the death of his invalid wife and his fruitless attempts to secure another position, he and his daughter have immigrated to a distant city. Fifteen years later Steele, returning to the city under an assumed name and now master of millions, determines to bring about the ruin of Ferris, now president of the banking house. At a ball, Marjorie, Steele’s daughter, meets and falls in love with Arthur Ferris, son of the bank president. When the young people bring the matter to Steele’s attention he turns them down flatly and forbids his daughter from further association with young Ferris. The young man appeals to his father to help him further his suit, and Ferris senior goes to Steele to see what he can do in behalf of his son. But when he learns the identity of Steele, he makes no further entreaties, but leaves immediately. Steele then orders his secretary to buy up the controlling stock of every company with which Ferris is connected. In meditation he hears a voice bidding him to be merciful and at the same time he sees a vision of Christ preaching on the Mount. His strange actions alarm his sister who sends for a doctor, but is told that her brother is only suffering from overwrought nerves. Steele’s plans work and a run is precipitated on Ferris’ bank. The climax comes when Steele draws a check on Ferris’ bank for $25,000. Young Ferris makes frantic appeals to other bankers to come to the aid of his father, but all decline. Under the pretense of desiring solitude the banker sends all persons away, takes a revolver from his desk and shoots himself. As a last resort, Arthur Ferris, ignorant of his father’s suicide, goes to Steele, asking him to save his father. Steele, very angry, renounces both father and son. The son is about to throttle Steele, when Marjorie intercedes for her father. Then Steele again hears the mysterious voice, and, calling for a pen and paper, he is about to direct his secretary to deposit enough money in Ferris’ bank to tide him over the difficulties when he bears the voices of newsboys yelling “Suicide of Lindsley Ferris.” His reparation had been too late and he sinks back, dead in his chair.