John Arthur, lawyer, has in his care the immense fortune left by Chas. Bristol for his daughter Lottie. So great was old Bristol’s confidence in the young lawyer, that he made it a condition of his will that John could use his own discretion in finally turning the money over to his daughter. The income she is to receive, but the principal is to remain under the watchful eye of John Arthur until Lottie is married to a man who in John’s estimation would be capable of managing the fortune. John has seen the girl on several occasions relative to business and her beauty appealed to him although thoughts of love never enter his mind. But when a foreigner Count Borni comes and courts Lottie, John becomes conscious of feelings he doesn’t understand. Just as a matter of business, however, he writes to a London firm inquiring about the Count’s reputation. He learns that the Count is a profligate and a bankrupt. John finds that Lottie has already lost her heart to the Count and all his warnings are in vain. The Count, of course, expects Lottie’s millions will be turned over to him upon their marriage, but John refuses to relinquish control of the money. Lottie’s governess is crafty; she proposes to the Count that she will get the money from John providing he (the count), will pay her $10,000 after his marriage to Lottie. The Count accepts the proposition and signs an agreement. The governess poisons Lottie’s mind against John and Lottie accuses him of wishing to control her fortune for his own personal reasons. Angered, John relinquishes the fortune to Lottie. The Count’s plans are somewhat disordered by a sudden notion on Lottie’s part to be married abroad. John learns of a passage to Europe suddenly booked by Lottie and the Count. He realizes that he loves the girl. He does not hope to win her, but determines to prevent the Count’s taking advantage of her innocence. The news comes an hour before sailing time. Too late to arrange for first class passage, but driven by grim purpose, he buys a steerage ticket. He meets the Count, Lottie and governess while they are on tour of the ship. Arriving at their destination he follows the Count to a gambling house in the hopes of finding an opportunity to expose him. The Count loses money supplied by the governess but boasts to his friends about his conquest of an heiress. He holds Lottie’s picture up to the gaze of the gamblers, He does not see John until John snatches the picture from him and knocks him down. A duel is fought in which John is wounded. The next day Lottie overhears an argument between the Count and the governess which opens her eyes. She finds John in a hospital. On his recovery Lottie makes him her guardian for life.