John Brown, the mate on a river steamboat, rescues a small boy from the clutches of a villainous deckhand, thereby gaining the roustabout’s bitter enmity. Absorbed over the events of the day, the mate fails to bestow upon his wife the usual home-coming caress. Annoyed, she greets the coming of the stranger as a possible foil to arouse the husband’s jealousy in punishment for the slight. The flirtation all but ends in a tragedy with discovery by the husband, who does not understand her innocent act. He spares the stranger’s life and leaves, as he vows, forever. The stranger promises to bring back the husband. Brown is waylaid by the rascally deckhand, who, with a companion, ties the mate to the wheel of the steamboat. The stranger boards the vessel as it pulls out. He discovers Brown’s predicament and after a savage battle with the ruffians, rescues the mate from the whirling, churning wheel of death. Brown is carried to his home, where he is revived. Matters are explained and a happy family reunited. The stranger goes his way.