At the zoo where she is performing with wild animals Mrs. Fairfield, daughter of George Winters, recognizing Mancey, a gentleman crook, who had been the cause of her father’s downfall and untimely death, and who has since disappeared. The sight of him again overcomes her with conflicting emotions and she forgets her part with the animals until she is in danger. Her husband, Fairfield, springs into the arena and saves her. Mancey writes a note to Mrs. Fairfield demanding that she meet him. The note falls into the hands of Fairfield, who, without a word, has it delivered to his wife. He determines to be at the meeting place. Mancey demands money from her under penalty of exposing the life of her father. Fairfield, overhearing the demand, is moved to step out and interfere, but he realizes that to do so would bring public disgrace upon his wife. Mrs. Fairfield feels the sting of Mancey’s words and is lost in retrospection. Mancey’s mind also reverts to the past. A plan suggests itself to Mrs. Fairfield. She whispers to Mancey to come to her home, late that night. At a signal she will admit him and pay the money he asks. The words please Mancey, but they do not escape the listening ears of Fairfield. Was his wife really going to accede to the demands of Mancey? Engrossed in thought, Fairfield returned to the arena. He came face to face with Nero, the lion, his especial pet, and his wife’s, too. He stroked Nero’s mane and then an idea came to him. Why not let the lion have a little joy out of this? He was one of the family: the woman, the lion and the man. At the appointed time Mancey lay in waiting for the signal. She expressed the wish to retire. Fairfield bid her an affectionate good-night. In her dresser lay her revolver. She brought it out and after satisfying herself that all was quiet extinguished the light. It was the signal. Mancey cautiously made his way to the window while Mrs. Fairfield noiselessly made her way towards the room where the money was kept. Mancey was safely inside; the curtains part and he sees a lion. It is a duel in the dark between man and Nero, the lion Mr. Fairfield brought to revenge his wife’s torments. In the other room, where Fairfield has been waiting, his wife encounters him. They both hear the lion’s roar and the fall of bodies. Mrs. Fairfield almost collapses. Fairfield takes the revolver from her hand, helps her to a chair and rushes into the room where Mancey had met his fatal Waterloo.