Chadwick, the overseer, aspires to win the hand of the beautiful Dorothy Jackson, who owns the plantation. The rough man does not appeal to her and she agrees to become the wife of Dick Patterson, a promising young attorney. Finally the overseer becomes so persistent that Dorothy finds it necessary to discharge him and he swears that he will be revenged. One afternoon Chadwick intercepts a message which Dorothy is sending to Dick, inviting him to luncheon. He succeeds in decoying the young attorney to a deserted steamboat, where he securely binds his prisoner. The overseer then sends word to Dorothy that her lover is in danger and will only be liberated upon the condition that she come to the village church and be united in marriage with Chadwick. Dorothy hits upon a scheme to outwit the overseer and sends her Negro servant-maid, heavily veiled. The subterfuge enables her to gain time to reach her sweetheart. Meanwhile, Dick, struggling at his bonds, endeavors to burn them with a candle which has been left him. In his desperation he upsets the candle and the cabin of the old boat is soon ablaze. Dorothy is just in time to extricate the young lawyer from his peril and puts the authorities on the trail of the overseer, who is brought to justice.